No Discussion of TPA in Obama Meeting with Reid, Republicans Urge President to Rally Support
The top Republican lawmakers in both chambers are ratcheting up pressure on President Barack Obama to encourage support for Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) among congressional Democrats. In his Jan. 28 State of the Union address, Obama touted Trade Promotion Authority as a means to increase U.S. exports, particularly in small and medium sized businesses (see 14012913). Leading House and Senate Republicans, however, say the brief reference is insufficient.
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“The President called for Congress to help break down trade barriers that stand in the way of more American jobs,” said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., in a Feb. 3 statement. “Republicans applauded him for that. He’s absolutely right. But now the President’s own party is now standing in the way of getting anything done. So if ever there was a moment for the President to use his phone, this is it. Because trade should be a bipartisan issue.”
In his address, Obama declined to specifically endorse the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities Act introduced on Jan. 9 (here). Democrats have repeatedly expressed reservation and opposition to Trade Promotion Authority in recent weeks and months, culminating in rejection of the legislation by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., on Jan. 29 (see 14013025). House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, said the legislation will fuel growth in U.S. agricultural and manufacturing exports.
“President Obama says he wants to get Trade Promotion Authority done. But one thing stands in the way of this job-creating trade legislation that would make it easier for Ohio’s small businesses, farmers, and manufacturers to secure new customers and create more jobs: Democrats on Capitol Hill,” said Boeher in a Jan. 31 weekly column (here). “In fact, the Senate Majority Leader -- a member of the President's own party -- says that he is not in favor of Trade Promotion Authority.”
Obama has repeatedly of late vowed to use the phone to muster support and pen to endorse executive actions in order to advance his agenda (here). "The president's State of the Union said he had a phone and a pen. I think the first phone call actually has to be to Harry Reid, to talk about trade," said House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., according to Reuters (here). Senate Finance Committee ranking member Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, also railed against Obama’s reluctance to spearhead TPA passage at a U.S. Chamber of Commerce event on Jan. 29 (see 14013027).
Obama did not discuss TPA during a Feb. 3 meeting with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., The New York Times reported (here), citing Democratic sources. White House spokesman Jay Carney refused to elaborate on the agenda planned for the meeting during a press briefing earlier in the day (here). Carney said, however, the president remains focused on securing the Trans-Pacific Partnership and Trade and Investment Partnership in order to boost U.S. exports.
“Every $1 billion in exports of U.S. goods and services supports between 4,000 and 5,000 U.S. jobs. And those jobs pay between 13 and 18 percent higher than the national average wage,” said Carney. “So these trade agreements would significantly boost our exports, and the President is going to push hard for this because he believes it’s the right thing to do for our economy, the right thing to do for American workers.” Reid has not scaled back his rejection of the legislation, since he made his unequivocal opposition public on Jan. 29 (see 14013025). Reid’s office did not immediately respond for comment. The White House confirmed the meeting with Reid would take place in a daily schedule release (here).