Democrats Block Obama’s Trade Authority

“Senate Democrats handed President Obama a stinging rebuke on Tuesday, blocking consideration of legislation granting their own president accelerated power to complete a major trade accord with Asia,” the New York Times reports.

“The Senate voted 52-45 on a procedural motion to begin debating the bill to give the president ‘trade promotion authority,’ eight votes short of the 60 needed to proceed. Republicans and pro-trade Democrats said they would try to negotiate a trade package that could clear that threshold.”

National Journal: “Tuesday’s vote represents a major blow to Obama, who lobbied hard for the bill, from foes within his own party, as most Democrats sided with Sen. Elizabeth Warren and others who led the coalition of labor and progressive activists that oppose the deal.”