The U.S. Senate is scheduled to take up several measures today that could clear the way for the president to get his so-called fast-track trade authority.
That’s according to Illinois Democrat Dick Durbin.
“Pro-Trade” Democrats broke ranks with the president this week and blocked his trade bill. They say Republicans must give them the chance to add protections before they’ll consider allowing a vote on the bill. Those include provisions to enforce worker safety, block the use of child labor and address currency manipulation.
Durbin says leaders have apparently agreed on a way to take up those issues, separate from the bill itself.
“There are some parts of it which will not be amendable, other parts which will be amendable," Durbin said. "I think, largely, the Democratic caucus thinks it’s a fair outcome.”
Durbin says it’s up to Republicans to embrace the procedural agreement. He says it will likely be next week before the main trade bill will get a vote.
