As President Obama continues to push approval of the fast-track trade bill in the U.S. Senate, a rare coalition has emerged. It pits the president and many Republicans against a mostly Democratic opposition in Congress Bloomberg Politics reports.
The greatest opposition has come from progressive House Democrats who have vowed to oppose the bill. However, many of those votes are switching as the White House presses its case. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell had rare words of praise for President Obama. “At the risk of having some of you literally faint,” he joked with reporters on Tuesday, “I want to compliment the president for the way he’s handling the trade issue.”
This week, Sen. McConnell announced the fast-track bill would be next up on the Senate’s calendar for a vote as he continues to work closely with the White House to move to majority support.
[pull_quote_right]“At the risk of having some of you literally faint, I want to compliment the president for the way he’s handling the trade issue.”[/pull_quote_right]
If the bill passes both houses of Congress, it will allow President Obama the authority to present trade deals to Congress for a quick up or down vote without amendments.
And the first deal for approval is the controversial Trans-Pacific Partnership, which has progressives up in arms over the prospect of lost American jobs.
