Congressional leaders and the White House are quickly finding there’s no easy option to revive President Barack Obama’s free trade initiative, leaving the White House’s top legislative priority in critical condition after Democrats turned against it in droves last week.
Millions of dollars and countless hours have been spent trying to pass Trade Promotion Authority, a key component in Obama’s quest to strike a trade deal with 11 other Pacific Rim countries. But Congress is now hung up on Trade Adjustment Assistance, a job training and aid program that typically rides alongside trade deals. One hundred and forty-four Democrats abandoned Obama on the TAA bill, which needs to pass for the legislation to be sent to the White House.
Party leaders in both houses of Congress are in touch with the White House in an attempt to figure out how to advance the legislation.
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