Republicans latest idea had been to get TPP trade deal passed to to do it independently from its TAA companion bill for assisting the workers that are sure to lose their jobs as a result of TPP has been set aside.
The pro TPP House Democrats including the DLC's successor the New Democrat Coalition (NDC) have emerged from a meeting on trying to revive their stalled TPP trade bill. They decided to join Obama, Boehner and McConnell on an new scheme to pass the trade package starting TOMORROW!
Trade pact proponents claim new momentum
But Democrats are still weighing whether they can trust Republicans to pass aid for laid-off workers
By Jake Sherman, Manu Raju and Lauren French
Speaker John Boehner and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell made the calculation quickly: If Congress didn’t act swiftly to send President Barack Obama a fast-track trade bill, it might never get done.
With that in mind, the Democratic president and the two Republican leaders embarked on their most intense bipartisan negotiating spree in recent memory, speaking on private conference calls, scheduling meetings with supportive Democrats and plotting a process to advance Obama’s top agenda item over the finish line. The back channeling, combined with some complex procedural machinations, might allow the House and Senate to clear both Trade Promotion Authority and Trade Adjustment Assistance before the July 4th recess.
The process is likely to begin in the House Thursday, when the chamber plans to vote to give Obama fast-track trade authority to negotiate the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the largest trade agreement in history. If it passes, McConnell would then take up the measure next week, hoping to win the support of at least a dozen Senate Democrats to send it to the president’s desk. The Senate would then amend a separate trade bill with Trade Adjustment Assistance, a program to aid workers who lose their jobs due to trade deals.
How 'trade' sausage gets made.
Boehner first spoke to the president on Tuesday about getting the trade deal done. That led to a conference call between the speaker, McConnell and Obama Tuesday night, on which the legislative leaders laid out their strategy.
Once the White House knew what Boehner and McConnell were planning, Obama started selling it. Pro-trade House Democrats quietly snuck over to the White House Tuesday morning to meet with Obama and they continued their discussion through Wednesday evening.
The Trans-Pacific Partnership isn't about trade (since trade barriers are already low), its about creating special privileges for corporations and their investors.
So please call your Congress Critters ASAP. Even if you already have shared your opinion already. House Switchboard (202) 224-3121
Also see: Obama, Republicans ponder Plan B to turn fast-track foes' victory into ashes