Obama’s Trade Plan Needs Almost 100 Votes to Pass US House

Obama’s Trade Plan Needs Almost 100 Votes to Pass US House

Supporters of President Barack Obama's fast-track trade proposal need almost 100 more votes to save it in a new House vote next week, after his fellow Democrats scuttled final action on the plan Friday.

White House press secretary Josh Earnest called the embarrassing defeat a "procedural snafu" and said he was optimistic that Democrats ultimately would help send the fast- track trade negotiating measure to Obama's desk.

Key Democratic opponents including House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, who criticized the trade plan in a dramatic floor speech, signaled that prospects for passage will increase if Republicans act on other Democratic priorities, such as a highway funding bill. A new House vote on trade will come as soon as Tuesday.

"We look forward to working in a bipartisan way for a trade promotion authority bill that has better transparency, more consultation with Congress and stronger protections for congressional priorities," she said in a letter to colleagues on Friday after the votes.

Obama has lobbied for months for the trade measure, which would let him submit agreements to Congress for an expedited, up-or-down vote without amendments. He contends it is needed to help complete a 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership and other agreements that would keep the U.S. competitive with overseas rivals.                                                                            http://www.newsmax.com/Headline/obama-needs-100-votes/2015/06/12/id/650326/#ixzz3cvwgHt2p