TPA Failed to Pass in the Senate

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May 13, 2015

    The Senate failed to garner the 60 votes needed to begin consideration of Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) with a 52-45 vote on May 12, 2015.  One Democrat voted in favor of cloture while 42 voted against along with two independents.  Democrats want to package TPA with other trade bills.  Senator Wyden (D-OR) commented, “Until there is a path to get all four bills passed … we will certainly, certainly most of us, have to vote no.” 

    To appease their critics, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-UT) agreed to package with the Trade Adjustment Assistance bill with TPA, but the cloture motion still failed in the Senate despite the promised change.  After the vote, Senator McConnell stated, “What we have just witnessed here is the Democratic Senate shut down the opportunity to debate the top economic priority of the Democratic president”.  Without TPA, it will be more difficult to pass the Trans-Pacific Partnership, since TPA would have eliminated the possibility for amendments to the trade agreement.  The House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Paul Ryan stated, “I hope my Democratic colleagues who support trade will reconsider their approach and allow the Senate to act. With so much at stake, we must continue to move ahead."  Senate Republicans and Democrats are currently working to reach a compromise to move the legislation forward.

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