House Republicans plan to hold another vote Thursday on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a 12-nation trade pact supported by President Obama and most Republicans but opposed by many Democrats. House Democrats helped defeat the measure last week, but the bill up for a vote on Thursday is simpler, giving Obama fast-track authority to negotiate the bill without a separate measure with aid for U.S. workers displaced by trade.
If this streamlined bill passes, it would have to be taken up in the Senate, where a bipartisan majority passed a bill combining TPP fast-track and the workers' aid program. Republicans said Wednesday they will bring up the aid program in a separate bill, but it's not clear that will be enough to get the requisite number of Senate Democrats on board. Obama says as long as both bills reach his desk, he doesn't care if they come together or separate. Fast-track authority means Obama would present the finished deal to Congress for an up-or-down vote with no amendments allowed.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
Sudan on brink of collapse after a year of warSpeed Read 18 million people face famine as the country continues its bloody downward spiral
-
How powerful is Iran?Today's big question Islamic republic is facing domestic dissent and 'economic peril' but has a vast military, dangerous allies and a nuclear threat
-
Olympics 2024: is Paris ready to party?Talking Point Build-up to this summer's Games 'marred' by rows over national identity, security and pollution
-
Sudan on brink of collapse after a year of war
Speed Read 18 million people face famine as the country continues its bloody downward spiral
-
Trump's first criminal trial starts with jury picksSpeed Read The former president faces charges related to hush money payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels
-
How will Israel respond to Iran's direct attack?Speed Read Iran’s weekend attack on Israel could escalate into a wider Middle East war
-
US, Israel brace for Iran retaliatory strikesSpeed Read An Iranian attack on Israel is believed to be imminent
-
Congress honors real-life Rosie the RivetersSpeed Read These American women reshaped the work force during World War II
-
Outgunned Ukraine could fall, US general warnsSpeed Read Without more US aid, Ukraine is at risk of losing the war
-
House GOP scuttles FISA vote at Trump's urgingSpeed Read Right-wing lawmakers blocked Speaker Mike Johnson's surveillance bill
-
Arizona court reinstates 1864 abortion banSpeed Read The law makes all abortions illegal in the state except to save the mother's life
