Obama given authority to ‘fast track’ trade deal

WASHINGTON — After several weeks of fits and starts, Congress last week voted to grant President Barack Obama “fast track” authority to advance an upcoming trade agreement.

Lawmakers had lurched as they debated trade this month.

Democrats in the House temporarily derailed Obama by helping to shelve part of the package. But the president, working in an unusual coalition with Republicans, regrouped and advanced.

The Senate voted 60-38 to give Obama “trade promotion authority,” the so-called “fast track” process by which Congress will only vote up or down on an upcoming major agreement with 11 Pacific Rim nations known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

The House voted earlier.

Supporters said increased trade will bolster the economy, opening markets for more U.S. products. They said Obama needs to be able to assure trading partners the deal will not be picked apart on Capitol Hill.

But critics who included labor unions and liberal Democrats such as Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren expressed suspicion that the trade deal, like others, will fall short in protecting American jobs and safeguarding the environment.

Sen. Dean Heller, R-Nev., voted for fast track; Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., voted against it.

An associated bill that would re­authorize training and assistance for U.S. workers who lose jobs due to trade passed the Senate by voice vote after clearing a procedural vote by a wide margin.

The House vote on the so-called Trade Adjustment Assistance program was 286-138.

Rep. Dina Titus, D-Nev., voted yes. Reps. Joe Heck, Cresent Hardy and Mark Amodei, all R-Nev., voted no.

House repeals Medicare cost panel

Lawmakers voted 244-154 — largely along party lines — to repeal a Medicare cost control panel that was created in the Affordable Care Act.

Scrapping the Independent Payment Advisory Board was the second feature of Obamacare to get a repeal vote after the House voted last week to scrap a medical device tax. President Obama would likely veto both if they reached him.

The advisory board was envisioned to propose savings in Medicare when its costs hit specified high levels that were not expected to be reached until 2024, if then.

Its recommendations would take effect unless Congress voted to block them.

Rep. Sander Levin, D-Mich., said the board could “go after overpayments, go after fraud and abuse, and improve, if needed the way there is reform of the delivery system.

“IBAP will not take away Medicare benefits; it will not shift costs to seniors,” he said.

Critics said the organization was given too much power and will amount to a health care rationing board since its recommendations could mean payment cuts to doctors.

“The hands of 15 unelected and unaccountable bureaucrats, appointed by the president is neither what America wants nor needs,” said sponsor Rep. Tim Huelskamp, R-Kan.

Heck, Hardy and Amodei voted to repeal the board. Titus did not vote.

Contact Review-Journal Washington Bureau Chief Steve Tetreault at stetreault@reviewjournal.com or 202-783-1760. Follow @STetreaultDC on Twitter.