Senate Votes to Advance Fast-Track Trade Bill

[Cheese Sandwich]

Source: Roll Call

Updated 3:52 p.m. | President Barack Obama’s fast-track trade bill is officially back on track in the Senate, after easily topping the 60-vote threshold needed to overcome a filibuster and open debate.

The trade bill will face amendment votes next week and possibly continue beyond the Memorial Day recess.

The 65-33 vote came after Senate Democrats filibustered the bill Tuesday, spurring a furious salvage operation from the president and Senate leaders. Before moving to the bill Thursday, the Senate passed two other trade measures, including one with currency enforcement measures backed by Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., opposed by the White House and likely headed for a spot in Speaker John A. Boehner’s circular file. The Ohio Republican called the idea “almost laughable.”

The agreement to move those other bills separately — an idea proposed by Schumer — cleared the way for pro-trade Democrats to climb back onboard the trade bandwagon.

Read more: http://blogs.rollcall.com/wgdb/senate-roll-call-vote-to-advance-fast-track-trade-bill/?dcz=

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[marym625]

1. Just so fucked up

[Cheese Sandwich]

3. I guess we probably should have expected it

The government always finds a way to advance the corporate agenda.

[Plucketeer]

2. Caption for the above photo...

"I know what that shit-eatin' grin is about, Chuck! You got a phone call from Charles and David like I did. Hah! And ALL those poor rubes callin' and writin' in to tell us to not do this Bwahahahahahahahhaahaahhahahhahah.........!!!!

[V0ltairesGh0st]

4. Fisrt I've ever said this and MEANT it....

[lamp_shade]

5. Good. The floor debates begin and I hope to learn a hell of alot more than I know now.

[Gregorian]

6. According to Grayson, they get an average of 80 seconds of debate each.

So maybe three people get to talk for an hour?

[lamp_shade]

7. Really? 80 seconds?

"The chamber is expected to vote on amendments to the package Tuesday, a process that could extend into June depending on how many proposals Democrats want to consider on the floor."
http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/242093-senate-votes-to-start-trade-debate

[Gregorian]

11. "88 seconds of debate allowed per member of the House"

It's about 3/4ths of the way through.

[lamp_shade]

12. Aha. That's usually the case.

[Geronimoe]

8. Well the Dems sure had us fooled for several hours

Fooled thinking the Dems actually care about workers, Unions, American families. But proved that they work for the 1 percenters.

Amazing how these bills go through, like a knife cutting melted butter. And something like the public option or creating jobs through building infrastructure are never on the table.

I thought Obama had made a fatal mistake taking on Elizabeth Warren and going to Nike who employees hardly any Americans and pay little in tax with offshore tax havens in Bermuda. However perhaps it was a brilliant move because he showed the America workers don't matter and American voters are too stupid, for this in your face display of disdain, to even register. No protests, no revolts, no opposition.

It's a big F-U to working Americans and Unions.

[CharlotteVale]

9. +1

[Duppers]

10. R for your post

[Warren Stupidity]

16. They gave us a "trip down memory lane".

So we could reminisce about what it was like to have a labor party fighting for the people.

[rhett o rick]

13. Did this vote approve Fast Track? And now they will debate the TPP itself?

With only up or down vote allowed?

[yallerdawg]

14. No, this was just cloture vote.

Now the Senate will debate and amend fast-track and then have an up-or-down vote.

Then all of this goes to the House! Which hates it all even more!

TPA and some other bills are establishing Congressional guidelines for TPP. These guidelines, while being broadly followed now, would still have to be debated with 11 other independent nations, so if TPA approved, TPP still far, far away!

[rhett o rick]

15. Thanks a lot. I think I'm up to speed now. nm

[TimeToEvolve]

17. since it's still not passed please do not give into pessimism..

the most important thing to do now is to turn up the pressure to delay this thing in any way possible.. Delay -Delay -Delay! The longer it takes.. the more public scrutiny it will attract, and the smaller its chance of survival it will be,

our problem is with attention span, we rested on our laurels after tuesday's small win..