House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), long one of President Obama's strongest and most reliable allies on Capitol Hill, announced Friday that she would vote against a key worker-related measure included in President Obama's 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal. Moments later, the House voted overwhelmingly, 302-126, against the measure, known as Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA), dealing a potentially fatal blow to the massive Pacific trade deal that Obama has worked on for months.
Obama met with Democrats on Capitol Hill on Friday morning and specifically asked for their votes. Pelosi's stand and the resulting landslide vote were a major blow to the president. It could potentially submarine Obama's larger push to gain "fast track" authority for the TPP, which would restrict future congressional approval of the massive trade deal to a yes-or-no vote, and possibly even sink the entire trade deal. The Senate has already approved fast track authority, and many House Republicans also sided with Obama.
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.
-
Why Bhutan hopes tourists will put a smile back on its faceUnder The Radar The 'kingdom of happiness' is facing economic problems and unprecedented emigration
-
7 beautiful towns to visit in Switzerland during the holidaysThe Week Recommends Find bliss in these charming Swiss locales that blend the traditional with the modern
-
The Week contest: Werewolf billPuzzles and Quizzes
-
Quincy Jones, music icon, is dead at 91Speed Read The legendary producer is perhaps best known as the architect behind Michael Jackson's 'Thriller'
-
OJ Simpson, star athlete tried for murder, dead at 76Speed Read The former football hero and murder suspect lost his battle with cancer
-
Momofuku's 'Chili Crunch' trademark uproarSpeed Read The company's attempt to own the sole rights has prompted backlash
-
Kevin Hart awarded Mark Twain PrizeSpeed Read He is the 25th recipient of the prestigious comedy prize
-
Is Downton Abbey set to return for a final film?Speed Read Imelda Staunton reveals that a third movie may be in the pipeline
-
'Oppenheimer' sweeps Oscars with 7 winsspeed read The film won best picture, best director (Christopher Nolan) and best actor (Cillian Murphy)
-
'Rust' armorer convicted of manslaughterspeed read The film's cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was shot and killed by actor Alec Baldwin during rehearsal
-
The Beatles are getting 4 intersecting biopicsSpeed Read Director Sam Mendes is making four separate movies, each told from the perspective of one band member
