House Rejects Trade Measure -- Rebuffing Obama’s Dramatic Appeal

[Zacha341]

House Rejects Trade Measure, Rebuffing Obama's ... [[LINK)

From article:

"Democrats rejected the president’s entreaties to “play it straight,” and not kill off trade promotion by voting against a program they have so consistently supported, according to Democrats in the room."

WASHINGTON — Hours after President Obama made a dramatic, personal appeal for support, House Democrats on Friday thwarted his push to expand trade negotiating power — and quite likely his chance to secure a legacy-defining accord spanning the Pacific Ocean.

In a remarkable blow to a president they have backed so resolutely, House Democrats voted to end assistance to workers displaced by global trade, a program their party created and has supported for four decades.

That move effectively scuttled legislation granting the president trade promotion authority — the power to negotiate trade deals that cannot be amended or filibustered by Congress.