Defying President Obama, Obama pleads with Dems to save fast-track trade package, House Democrats on Friday rallied to vote down legislation granting aid to workers displaced by trade, i.e., the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program, dealing a potentially fatal blow to the fast-track legislation. Under the House rule passed on Thursday, the TAA had been packaged with fast-track authority, and a vote against either doomed the total package. House deals humiliating blow to Obama in trade fight:
An overwhelming majority of Democrats voted to sink the package in the 126-302 vote despite an impassioned plea from the president, which he delivered in person during a rare morning visit to Capitol Hill. A majority of Republicans also opposed the bill.
The vote came minutes after a dramatic floor speech by House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), who rebuffed lobbying by Obama to vote against the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program.
Pelosi noted that Democrats have traditionally backed TAA, but sided with liberals in her conference who argued a vote against the program was the only way to stop fast-track.
“If TAA slows down the fast track, I’m prepared to vote against TAA,” Pelosi said.
Other members of Pelosi’s leadership team, including House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) and Reps. James Cyburn (S.C.) and Steve Israel (N.Y.), voted “yes.”
On the GOP side, Speaker John Boehner (Ohio) cast a vote in favor of TAA. Speakers cast floor votes on relatively rare occasions.
[The vote was 126 to 302.] Only 40 Democrats backed TAA, while 144 voted against it. On the GOP side, 158 Republicans voted “no,” while 86 Republicans voted “yes.”
[Roll No. 361. A rare unanimous Arizona delegation voting No: Franks, Gallego. Gosar, Grijalva, Kirkpatrick, McSally, Salmon, Schweikert, Sinema]
The vote against TAA is a humiliating defeat for Obama, who had spent weeks lobbying House Democrats to support his trade agenda in the face of overwhelming opposition from liberal groups and organized labor.