This afternoon in the House the TAA (Trans Adjustment Assitance) bill was crushed while the TPA (the fast track authority) was narrowly passed, putting the bills in legislative limbo.
It was a “humiliating defeat” for the president according to the AP:
The House derailed a high-profile White House-backed trade bill on Friday, a humiliating defeat for President Barack Obama inflicted by Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and dozens of union-backed lawmakers from his own party.
The 302-126 vote left the legislation in perilous limbo, and came a few hours after Obama journeyed to the Capitol to deliver a last-minute personal plea to fellow Democrats to give him power to negotiate global trade deals that Congress could approve or reject but not change.
Obama’s 11th hour visit to Capitol Hill actually hurt the bill’s chances with Democrats as the president’s conduct reportedly “alienated” House Democrats.
Pelosi voted “no” despite escorting Obama into a closed-door caucus of House Democrats, most of whom opposed the fast-track trade bill, which requires that trade pacts be delivered to Congress for up or down votes, without amendment. The authority is key to getting trade partners to seal agreements since they know Congress can’t amend them.
One House Democrat told CNN’s Jake Tapper that Obama became “indignant.”
“He was fine until he turned it at the end and became indignant and alienated some folks,” the lawmaker said.
House Democratic Rep #1 re: POTUS visit to Hill: “He was fine until he turned it at the end and became indignant and alienated some folks.”
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) June 12, 2015
Obama started acting like Obama in other words.
Another Democratic House lawmaker told Tapper that Obama’s visit “absolutely” hurt the bill.
“Democrats believe they often are taken granted and not appreciated” by Obama, the lawmaker said.
House Dem Rep #2: POTUS visit “absolutely” hurt the bill. “Democrats believe they often are taken granted and not appreciated” by POTUS.
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) June 12, 2015
Can’t say I have a lot of sympathy for Dems who are just now noticing, six and a half years into his presidency, Obama’s bullying, petulant nature.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member