On Friday, the House of Representatives voted against the Fast track Trade Package sent over by the Senate. This comes after months of pressure by environmental, labor, and consumer advocacy groups; the Sierra Club and AFL-CIO among them. California’s congressional delegation was particularly lobbied by both sides of the debate, with groups such as “Main St. 4 Growth” and the Chamber of Commerce vying for Congress member’s support for both TAA (Trade Adjustment Assistance) and Fast Track (TPA), the combined trade package.
The TAA vote, which would’ve provided $450 million for “re-training” and supplement-income programs for Americans who lose their jobs over expanded trade, was defeated in the House (126 For, 302 Against). TAA is historically supported by Democrats, but the passage of the concurring Fast Track vote, which the majority of Democrats oppose, depended on the passing of TAA.
Minutes before the House was set to vote on the Trade Package, Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, who was kept silent on President Obama’s “monumental” trade package, only “looking for a path to yes” before, urged fellow Democratic House members to vote against TAA in order to “slow down the Fast Track”, seeking a better “deal for America’s workers” and one that helps tackle climate change.
The vote on Fast Track, which was purely symbolic as TAA was rejected, was passed at a closer margin (219 For, 211 Against). Before last week’s vote, only Rep. Bera (CA-07) had announced his support for Fast Track (TPA), which would cede Congress’ power to add amendments protecting the environment, and working families, in a trade deal. Only five Democrats from California voted in support of the symbolic Fast Track legislation, being Reps. Bera, Costa, Farr, Davis, and Peters; the other thirty-four CA Democrats voting against.
As the Republican-controlled Congress scrambles to vote on TAA again, or abandon the Trade Package altogether, fair trade activists will be watching their Congress member’s votes heading into the 2016 cycle.