AP BIG story: Obama's trade agenda faces tougher odds heading into House

[Omaha Steve]

FILE - In this May 26, 2015 file photo, President Barack Obama speaks in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington. For all the near-death moments his trade agenda overcame in the Senate, President Barack Obama’s effort to cap his presidency with a major international commerce deal faces its biggest hurdle - and perhaps its graveyard - in the more polarized House of Representatives. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File)


http://bigstory.ap.org/article/f23088c0d7c64bb0815bb30b676dd101/obamas-trade-agenda-faces-tougher-odds-heading-house

WASHINGTON (AP) — After several near death experiences in the Senate, the trade agenda that President Barack Obama is pushing as a second term capstone faces its biggest hurdle yet in the more polarized House.

Anti-trade forces have struggled to ignite public outrage over Obama's bid to enact new free-trade agreements, but Democratic opposition in Congress remains widespread.

The outcome may turn on Republicans' willingness to hand the president a major win in his final years in office. Underscoring the difficulties, House leaders are looking at the second or third week of June to schedule a vote, even though House members return from recess on Monday.

"The business of bill passing is a messy, sausage-making process. It was in the Senate, and it certainly will be in the House," White House communications director Jen Psaki said in an interview. "There will be many moments where there will be difficult issues. We have our eyes wide open with that."

FULL story at link.

[pipoman]

1. It can't be tough enough imho

[ananda]

11. I know. I'd prefer the words "dead in the water."

..

[Enrique]

2. isn't this sweet

The White House has been especially impressed by the efforts of House Ways and Means Chairman Paul Ryan, a Wisconsin Republican who has worked to persuade conservatives who are reluctant to give a Democratic president fast track authority. Ryan has written opinion pieces with Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, a darling of the conservative movement, in support of trade and has courted other conservative leaders to back fast track.

[raindaddy]

4. This thing passes and as we begin to experience the fallout here at home, Obama's legacy

will be the Democratic president who joined with the Republicans to sell us out...

[Baitball Blogger]

5. Well, he wouldn't be the first.

He is following in Bill Clinton's footsteps.

Sad thing. When the Republicans vote in a president the country gets impoverished with Republican programs. That worked for a while when we had true Democratic leadership that made sure the coffers were filled. But now we have nothing to fall back on and the current Democratic presidents are continuing the bleeding.

[raindaddy]

13. I agree he is following in Clinton's footsteps..

The difference is Bill Clinton has been able to maintain he's legacy to a certain point with the general public... I think he has expressed some regret around NAFTA.. Even Obama claimed he was going to renegotiate NAFTA...

Obama's situation is a bit different because we already know what we know about NAFTA and Obama is trashing fellow Democrats resisting in his own party while teaming up with the hard right in the opposing party. Classic betrayal. Even with all of his charisma I don't think Obama has enough goodwill for his legacy to survive that...

[demmiblue]

7. Praising Senator Ayn Rand... how lovely.

[cali]

3. this will be interesting to watch in a car wreck kind of way and

ultimately heartbreaking for those of us opposed to the tpp. Passing the tpa ensures passage of the tpp. I'm pretty damned sure it will pass, though by no more than 2 or 3 votes. When they schedule the vote, we'll know they have the votes. Sausage making at its ugliest.

[raindaddy]

9. Is it a done deal?

We've experienced a pattern of progressive issues giving way to endless amounts of corporate cash for a pretty long time...Now we have a Democratic President teaming up with the most extreme RW Republican party in modern to push through a bill that seems like the antithesis of what the party once stood for and the public isn't even allowed to see it... How much farther to the right can the Democratic party shift and still survive?

The more information leaked about the TPP more and more people are expressing resistance. And not just in this country. There's got to be a tipping point somewhere...

[cali]

10. yes, there has to be a tipping point but I don't think

the tpp is it. It may not be a done deal, but it's close.

[neverforget]

12. I agree Cali. It's going to pass. Arms will be twisted, deals

made and magically the corporations will get what they want. I'll be shocked if it doesn't.

[Robbins]

6. I'm sorry

I didn't vote for republican in 2008 and 2012.

prasing paul ryan and attacking elizabeth warren is not a real democrat.

[Enthusiast]

14. +1 a whole bunch!

[Recursion]

8. Jesus I would love it if the House GOP blocks the TPP

That would be all kinds of perfect.

[davidpdx]

15. I just emailed my worthless bluedog congressman

I'd bet a whole month's salary he'll vote for it. He's pretty predictable.