Agricultural News
Oklahoma Senator James Lankford is "All In" on Trade Promotion Authority
Wed, 24 Jun 2015 05:34:49 CDT
The trade promotion bill cleared its last major hurdle on Tuesday as the Senate agreed by a 60 to 37 vote to advance the legislation to a final congressional vote. In a key victory for President Obama, 13 Democrats joined Republicans in voting for cloture on the Trade Promotion Authority bill which would ensure that trade agreements can get an up-or-down vote in Congress without risk of amendment.
Sixty votes were needed to advance the bill to a final vote on Wednesday that will require only a simple majority to send the measure to Obama for his signature. GOP Leadership were able to get Democratic support on the TPA measure by promising that other related issues would be considered by both bodies- including TAA- Trade Adjustment Assistance- that went down to an overwhelming defeat just a week ago in the US House.
One of the Senators supporting TPA was Oklahoma Senator James Lankford- who told Radio Oklahoma Ag Network Farm Director Ron Hays that this is not giving more authority to President Obama- but rather dictates what trade deals must have in them before he can bring them back to Congress for an up or down vote. He also pointed out that this authorization for "fast track" negotiations is for a 12 year period- so it is also for the next resident of the White House- whoever that may be. Hays talked with Senator Lankford at the reception to honor Oklahoma Congressman Frank Lucas as his portrait that will hang in the US House Ag Committee meeting room was unveiled on Tuesday evening.
You can hear Hays and Senator Lankford discuss TPA by clicking on the LISTEN BAR below.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI
Top Agricultural News
More Headlines...
