Democratic Reps.Sean Maloney and  Louise Slaughter are gearing up to do legislative battle against President Barack Obama over international trade.
The two New Yorkers joined several Democratic House colleagues today in announcing they have enough votes to block legislation to provide “fast”-track” approval of trade pacts. The fast-track process, also known as trade promotion authority, would mean Congress could only approve or reject trade deals signed by the president, but couldn’t amend them.
“We believe we will win this vote to defeat fast-track,’’ Democratic Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut said.
Maloney challenged fast-track supporters to visit the Hudson Valley cities he represents.
“Show me the middle-class families who are going to benefit in the district I represent,’’ he said.
Slaughter pointed to job losses at Rochester-area manufacturers such as Eastman Kodak and Hickey Freeman.
In his State of the Union Speech Tuesday night, Obama acknowledged that critics of past trade deals make valid points.
“Past trade deals haven’t always lived up to the hype,’’ he said.
But he said he hopes to overcome that with “trade promotion authority to protect American workers, with strong new trade deals from Asia to Europe that aren’t just free, but fair.’’
The battle is expected early in the new Congress.
On Tuesday, the House Ways and Means Committee and Senate Finance Committee will hold hearings with U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman providing an update on trade policy.
It signals that the fast-track issue will be an earlier priority for both committees.
Lawmakers in the House and Senate already are working on bipartisan legislation to renew trade promotion authority, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, said in a speech at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Hatch said he’s working with Ryan and Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon on a new bill.
“Swift action on TPA will jumpstart a robust trade agenda that will help America gain greater access to growing overseas markets and hold our trading partners accountable through the negotiation and enactment of strong trade agreements,’’ Hatch said in a statement after Obama’s State of the Union speech.
He warned that congressional Democrats “can now either work with the president and Republicans to pass TPA and empower our country to compete, or they can throw up more roadblocks and cast uncertainty on our country’s trade agenda.”
The post Maloney, Slaughter gear up for battle over trade authority appeared first on Politics on the Hudson.

----