[CTC] Obama praises Hatch’s efforts to get bipartisan Fast Track deal

[Arthur Stamoulis]

POLITICO
 
Obama praises Hatch’s efforts to get bipartisan TPA deal
 
4/3/15 2:42 PM EDT
President Barack Obama today praised Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch for his months of efforts to reach a bipartisan trade promotion authority bill with the panel’s ranking Democrat, Sen. Ron Wyden.

“Orrin Hatch is working very hard on that,” Obama said in remarks at Hill Air Force Base, north of Hatch’s hometown of Salt Lake City. “Utah is one of the leading exporting states in the country, and that’s part of the reason this state has been so successful. We’re very grateful that Senator Hatch is working with Senator Wyden to make sure that we can get that deal done.”

The remarks came as Hatch, Wyden and House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Paul Ryan strive to reach a bipartisan TPA deal that could move through Congress after lawmakers return April 13 for a crowded six-week legislative session leading up to the Memorial Day break. Hatch initially hoped for a bill by the end of February and then by the end of March.

It was not immediately clear whether Hatch and Obama had any conversations during the president’s Good Friday visit to the predominantly Mormon state. However, in an op-ed <http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/2360419-155/op-ed-heres-what-president-can-do> in The Salt Lake Tribune today, Hatch emphasized the importance of TPA to completing trade deals in the Asia-Pacific and Europe.

“Republicans in Congress stand ready to work with President Obama and help these negotiations succeed. The president can help us accomplish this critical economic priority by making the case to his fellow Democrats,” Hatch wrote.

Utah legislators tend to be strong supporters of trade agreements. However, one of the delegation’s Republicans, Rep. Rob Bishop, voted against trade pacts with South Korea, Colombia and Panama in 2011.

In contrast, Rep. Jason Chaffetz, like Hatch and Sen. Mike Lee, voted for all three agreements. All three are Republicans.

Two newer members, Rep. Mia Love and Rep. Chris Stewart, both Republicans, have not yet faced a vote on trade agreements. Because of the Christian holiday, it was difficult to reach the Utah lawmaker’s offices to get their views on whether they plan to vote for TPA.

— Doug Palmer
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