[CTC] Ways and Means Committee approves Fast Track bill with only two Democrats

[Arthur Stamoulis]

POLITICO 
 
Ways and Means Committee approves TPA bill with only two Democrats
 
4/23/15 7:55 PM EDT
The House Ways and Means Committee has approved a bill to give President Barack Obama trade promotion authority by a 25-13 vote, with only two Democrats joining the 23 Republicans on the panel in support of the measure.

The meager Democratic support highlights the tougher battle the controversial legislation faces in the House than the Senate. However, senior Republicans have expressed confidence there will be enough votes to approve the bill when it heads to a full floor vote.

The Senate Finance Committee approved the "fast track" trade package Wednesday night on a 20-6 vote. Seven Democrats joined 13 Republicans in support of the bill to help the White House finish the Trans-Pacific Partnership pact.

The two Ways and Means Democrats who voted for the bill were Rep. Ron Kind of Wisconsin and Rep. Earl Blumenhauer of Oregon. Ten other Democrats off the panel have indicated their support for the bill and supporters still hope that number will grow, despite the opposition of senior Ways and Means Democrats.

Committee Chairman Paul Ryan successfully defended the carefully-crafted deal he reached with the top Republican and Democrat on the Finance Committee.

The Republican-led panel rejected 19 amendments offered by Democrats in areas including protection of labor rights, China's currency practices and procedures for handling investment disputes. Ryan barred a vote on a complete substitute offered by the panel's senior Democrat, Sander Levin, on the grounds it violated House jurisdictional rules.

— Doug Palmer
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