Boehner hands Obama trade deal

It was the second try in less than a week and the result of a strategy designed by House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, in consultation with President Obama.

 

The House technically did pass the trade Promotion Authority, or TPA, bill on Friday. But it did not include a controversial provision included in the Senate version of the bill called Trade Adjustment Assistance, or TAA, which would have provided money to workers who lose their jobs as a result of foreign trade.

 

Since the Senate and the House had not passed the same version of TPA, it could not go to the president for his signature without changes.

 

TPA now goes back to Senate, where it is likely to be approved. Senators will take up TAA separately, at some point.

 

House members effectively halted TPA on Friday, while technically approving it by a narrow margin of 219 to 211, by also shooting down TAA by an overwhelming tally of 302 to 126.

 

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