Republican leaders in the House “are setting up a showdown vote Friday on the fast-track trade bill that the Obama administration says will clear the way for wrapping up negotiations on a Pacific Rim agreement,” says Agri-Pulse. Leaders have waited to bring the legislation to the floor to assure they have enough support to pass it. The bill would guarantee a prompt vote with no amendments on trade agreements.
The House was expected to vote on a package of three bills – the Senate-passed fast-track bill, a separate bill to enforce trade agreements and a bill to continue duty-free treatment of imports from developing countries.
“Hours after House Republican leaders announced a Friday vote on sweeping free trade legislation, Democrats and their allies are threatening to derail the package over a procedural issue that they say would force them to go on record in favor of cutting Medicare — even though the cuts are unlikely to ever actually occur,” said Politico.