The Hill: Democrats Are Bucking Obama On Fast Track
Credit: popularresistance.org
May 6, 2015

This is what Alan Grayson has said all along: He thinks the fast-track bill will lose in the House. Here's hoping he's right. The Hill:

Democrats are bucking President Obama on a trade bill, with 47 House members of his party already lined up against a measure that would speed global agreements through Congress, according to The Hill's Whip List.

In the Senate, 13 Democrats have also said they won’t back trade promotion authority (TPA), also known as fast-track, calling into question White House’s efforts to push for broad trade deals from Latin America to Asia and Europe.

That opposition could grow in the House, as trade critics launch a full-court press. Twenty-one Democrats, many of whom previously signaled support, are still holding back on the fast-track bill.

While the bill looks to have decent prospects in the Senate — seven Democrats supported the measure in the Senate Finance Committee, likely enough to overcome any procedural hurdles on the floor — the House will probably decide the issue on a very thin margin.

So far, eight House Democrats have expressed support, including Reps. Gerry Connolly (Va.), Gregory Meeks (N.Y.) and Mike Quigley (Ill.), all members of the New Democrat Coalition who are stepping up their efforts to get their own party on board.

Obama has also stepped up efforts to win support, vowing to protect Democrats facing tough reelection bids in 2016.

House Republicans will also need Democrats to help carry the measure, with many GOP lawmakers opposed to giving the president more powers.

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