Senate moves Fast-Track forward (60-37)

The Senate voted 60-37 on Tuesday morning to invoke cloture on Trade Promotion Authority, meaning a final vote will be held tomorrow with no further opportunities for amendments. The upper chamber needed 60 votes to pass the measure, making the 13 affirmative democratic votes all the more crucial in advancing the President’s trade agenda.

What does fast-track do?

TPA, or Trade Promotion Authority, vests the power to negotiate trade deals in the President. Once Obama approves the TPP, Congress will have no opportunity to attach amendments or alter the bill; a simple up-or-down vote will be held to approve the largest trade deal in history. Proponents say fast-track is necessary due to the complex nature of the negotiations – approving a trade deal is much more difficult if the President must keep returning to Congress for approval. However, such a circumvention all but assures the exclusion of the very people it will affect most.

Why was this vote different than the vote in May, where TPA passed the Senate?

Last month the Senate voted to advance fast-track authority with Trade Adjustment Assistance attached to the package. TAA is widely supported by Democrats as it provides funds and assistance for domestic workers hurt by the trade deal. The House last Friday voted down the Senate-approved package, prompting majority leader Mitch McConnell to separate the two bills and attach TAA to an African economic aid package. Basically, TPA was passed today with the trust that TAA will be advanced later this week.

What now?

The Senate will vote tomorrow on final approval for the TPA, which, if passed, will be sent to the President to be signed into law. McConnell has vowed that both the TPA and TAA will be approved by the end of the week, setting up a battle in the House next week over TAA.

The Bottom Line?

TPP / TPA opponents have less than 24 hours to voice their disapproval with their representatives. The margin today was razor-thin; as little as two defections to the ‘nay’ column could be enough to derail tomorrow’s vote. Senator Orrin Hatch, in presenting his support for TPA before Tuesday’s vote, claimed without passing TPA “neither Congress nor the American people will have a strong voice at these negotiations”. Unfortunately for the Senator from Utah, passing TPA would virtually ensure that Congress and the American people will have no voice in the negotiations.

Read about theDiurna’s opposition to the TPP and call your Senator.