Pelosi Flatly Rejects TPA Legislation at Union Rally
The Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities Act fails to meet sufficient standards on environmental protection and currency manipulation safeguards, and therefore has limited Democratic support in Congress, said House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., speaking at a United Steelworkers and the BlueGreen Alliance Feb. 12 rally on Capitol Hill. Pelosi flatly rejected the legislation, the 2014 iteration of Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), also railing against the fast-track voting mechanisms in the bill.
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“I told, as recently as yesterday, Chairman Camp, I said: ‘We cannot support Camp--Baucus. We cannot support Camp-Baucus,’” said Pelosi, according to a transcript released by her office. “No on Fast Track -- Camp-Baucus -- out of the question. Out of the question.” House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp, R-Mich., and Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., introduced the bicameral legislation on Jan. 9, along with Finance ranking member Orrin Hatch, R-Utah.
Speaker of the House John Boehner, R-Ohio, repeated his call for President Barack Obama to muster democratic support for the TPA legislation during a Feb.6 weekly press briefing, saying Republican support will be insufficient in the House (see 14020703). Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., has not publicly recanted opposition to the legislation (see 14020401). Reid and Pelosi are the highest ranking Democrats in their respective chambers.