By Dan Calabrese ——Bio and Archives--June 12, 2015
American Politics, News | CFP Comments | Reader Friendly | Subscribe | Email Us
In a 126-302 vote, the House killed the so-called Trade Adjustment Assistance bill -- a program that retrains workers displaced by trade. The bill was originally put on the table as a sweetener to help entice recalcitrant Democrats to back the president's overall agenda. But the president's own party is so opposed to that agenda, they voted down the sweetener. In a major defection for Obama, even House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi joined the rebellion in opposing TAA minutes before the vote. Though she supports the worker aid, she said it was the only way to "slow down the fast track." She predicted the main trade bill would be "stuck in the station" without TAA. Now, the president's entire trade plan indeed is up in the air, leaving Obama faced with a potentially humiliating defeat at the hands of his party.Be careful not to confuse this with the primary bill concerning fast-track authority for trade agreements. That one is yet to come, and the House is expected to move it forward fairly quickly. The Trade Adjustment Assistance bill was always going to be a hard sell with Republicans, but Obama hoped it might persuade Democrats who hate free trade to nevertheless get on board because it would promise assistance to workers. No such luck. I think he underestimated the power of protectionism among Democrats and their union overlords.
Support Canada Free Press
View Comments
Dan Calabrese’s column is distributed by HermanCain.com, which can be found at HermanCain
Follow all of Dan’s work, including his series of Christian spiritual warfare novels, by liking his page on Facebook.