Harry Reid rejects President Obama’s trade push
By ERIC BRADNER and MANU RAJU | 1/29/14 2:10 PM EST Updated: 1/29/14 5:53 PM EST
President Barack Obama’s push for the two largest free trade deals in U.S. history has hit a major roadblock: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.
The Nevada Democrat said he opposes a bill that would fast-track the Pacific Rim and European Union pacts through Congress with limited debate and no amendments – which the White House says is crucial to gaining concessions from other countries to finalize those deals.
Reid made it abundantly clear that he has voiced his concerns to Obama’s administration, as well as the outgoing chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Max Baucus (D-Mont.), and his replacement, Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), who would take the lead on the issue once Baucus departs to become U.S. ambassador to China.
“Everyone knows how I feel about this,” Reid said just off the Senate floor. “Sen. Baucus knows. Sen. Wyden knows. The White House knows. Everyone would be well-advised to not push this right now.”
Will the Republicans get the blame for standing in Obama's way on this one and will Obama use his pen to successfully go around HIS DEMOCRAT ROADBLOCK SENATOR REID. The same roadblock that has stopped any of the Republican Controlled House's bill that would create US jobs from getting to the Senate floor for a honest vote?