House GOP Leaders Urge Senate to Work Through Impasse
House Republican trade leadership pushed the Senate to keep working to hammer out a compromise on trade legislation, following the defeat of a vote to open debate on the Senate floor by Democratic opposition. “I hope my Democratic colleagues who support trade will reconsider their approach and allow the Senate to act,” said House Ways and Means Chairman Paul Ryan, R-Wis., on May 12. “With so much at stake, we must continue to move ahead."
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Rep. Charles Boustany, R-La., an active voice in trade, said he’s still optimistic Congress will ultimately pass trade legislation. The procedural plan devised by House and Senate leaders meant to minimize the number of floor votes prior to a final agreement apparently fell apart, he said while speaking at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on May 12. Much effort will now be necessary to overcome the "mistrust that’s been built between House and Senate” and persistent skepticism surrounding the legislation, Boustany said. The House also faces its own challenge in preventing “far right” lawmakers from opposing trade legislation, said Boustany, who said he’s been “very involved” in counting House votes.
Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee Chairman Pat Tiberi, R-Ohio, called on President Barack Obama to ramp up efforts to deliver Democratic votes. “We need more leadership from President Obama to convince members of his own party that breaking down barriers so American companies can sell their products overseas is good for American workers,” said Tiberi in a statement. “It’s time for President Obama to step up and insist on separating fact from fiction about trade.” Obama has repeatedly made the case for trade publicly and aggressively, most recently at Nike headquarters (see 1505100003). Following the Senate vote on May 12, Obama also courted 14 Democrats at the White House to press for their support, the White House said.