Hillary says she would not have voted with Obama on trade

Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama might see eye to eye on a lot of issues, but the fast-track trade bill is not one of them. In an interview on Ralston Reports on Thursday — the same day that the House passed legislation, 218-208 — Clinton said that if she were still in the Senate, she probably would not vote to give Obama fast track authority to finish negotiations with 11 Pacific Rim nations in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) — at least not as the bill stands now.
Based off the spread of votes in the House on Thursday, Clinton likely would be far from the only Democrat to break with the president on this particular vote. Only 28 House Democrats voted for the bill on Thursday, compared to 158 Democrats that voted against it. The biggest problem most Democrats — Clinton included — have with the bill is that it does not include the Trade Adjustment Assistance addendum, which would offer worker assistance provision for those negatively affected by global trade. "Right now I'm focused on making sure we get trade adjustment assistance," Clinton said in the Ralston Reports interview, "and I certainly would not vote for it unless I were absolutely confident we would get trade adjustment assistance."
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.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
5 low ratings cartoons about the Late Show cancellation
Cartoons Artists take on early warning signs, the Gen Z stare, and more
-
Connie Francis: Superstar of the early 1960s pop scene
In the Spotlight The 'Pretty Little Baby' and 'Stupid Cupid' singer has died aged 87
-
Crossword: July 26, 2025
The Week's daily crossword puzzle
-
Trump executive order targets homeless
Speed Read It will now be easier for states and cities to remove homeless people from the streets
-
Columbia pays $200M to settle with White House
Speed Read The Trump administration accused the school of failing to protect its Jewish students amid pro-Palestinian protests
-
Florida judge and DOJ make Epstein trouble for Trump
Speed Read The Trump administration's request to release grand jury transcripts from the Epstein investigation was denied
-
Trump attacks Obama as Epstein furor mounts
Speed Read The Trump administration accused the Obama administration of 'treasonous' behavior during the 2016 election
-
Trump administration releases MLK files
Speed Read Newly released documents on the 1968 assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. did not hold any new revelations, King historians said
-
Japan's prime minister feels pressure after election losses
Speed Read Shigeru Ishiba has vowed to remain in office
-
President diagnosed with 'chronic venous insufficiency'
Speed Read The vein disorder has given Trump swollen ankles and visible bruising on his hands
-
'Bawdy' Trump letter supercharges Epstein scandal
Speed Read The Wall Street Journal published details of Trump's alleged birthday letter to Epstein