RINO GOP Leaders Vow to Resurrect Obama Trade Deal

Republican leaders will try to resurrect the trade deal Democrats sank less than a week ago, planning a revote today and insisting they will corral enough votes to approve fast-track negotiating powers that President Obama needs to complete a legacy-building Pacific Rim agreement.

Mr. Obama met Wednesday afternoon with Democratic lawmakers who support free trade to make sure they will vote for the plan, and House Republican leaders began the process of forcing a revote on powers known as Trade Promotion Authority, which is favored in their party, and Trade Adjustment Assistance, which is generally a Democratic priority.

Democrats last week voted against Trade Adjustment Assistance as a way of poisoning the package, so Republican leaders have decided to split the bill and pass Trade Promotion Authority first, then leave it to Mr. Obama to rally enough Democrats to pass Trade Adjustment Assistance.

“We are committed to ensuring both TPA and TAA get votes in the House and Senate and are sent to the president for signature,” said a joint statement by House Speaker John A. Boehner, Ohio Republican, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Kentucky Republican, rejecting claims that the issue was dead.

The plan came together quickly Wednesday. It offers Mr. Obama a chance to recover from the embarrassing defeat Friday when House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, California Democrat, led the opposition to Trade Adjustment Assistance, sinking the deal just hours after the president made a trip to the Capitol to plead personally for support. (Read more from “GOP Leaders Vow to Resurrect Obama Trade Deal” HERE)

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