Senate Rejects Fast Track Authority for the Trans Pacific Partnership

May 12, 2015

safe_imageA group of pro-trade Democrats in the Senate announced on Tuesday that they will vote against fast-track approval for the Trans-Pacific Partnership.  This will effectively block the bill from being debated by the Senate. This comes after the Senate Democrats said Majority Leader Mitch McConnell had not guaranteed sufficient protections for workers who would stand to lose their jobs.
Due to this impasse, Democratic leaders predict that they can muster 41 votes to block the bill from being debated.
 
Update:  45 Senators voted against closure, effectively blocking the measure.