Senate votes against advancing fast-track trade bill

The Senate on Tuesday voted against advancing a bill that would grant the president fast-track authority to expedite a massive trade pact, delivering a stinging blow to President Obama's agenda. The measure needed 60 votes to move on to formal debate, but failed by a 52-45 vote.

Pro-trade Democrats signaled their intention Tuesday morning to stall the bill until it is amended to include bolstered trade enforcement protections. That group included one of the bill's co-authors, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), who said that while he remained "thoroughly committed" to passing the bill he could not do so without ensuring it includes those protections.

The bill would grant President Obama authority to push through Congress the Trans-Pacific Partnership — a massive trade pact with 11 nations — without amendments and by a simple majority vote. Though the bill is a priority for the White House, it has drawn the ire of some vocal progressive Democrats.

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