Collins, King split on 'fast track' vote that Obama lost in Senate
Maine’s U.S. Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King were split on a key procedural vote Tuesday on President Obama’s request that Congress give him “fast track” authority to move the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement through Congress.
The measure failed to get the necessary 60 votes, with King voting “no” and Collins voting “yes” in the 52-45 Senate vote.
The procedural vote to open up debate of Trade Promotion Authority, as fast track is formally called, is a setback for Obama’s efforts to win approval for the largest proposed free trade agreement in history, involving the United States and 11 countries on the Pacific Rim and representing close to 40% of the world’s economy.
Despite their opposite votes, both Maine senators expressed concern about the potential impact the TPP might have on up to 900 shoemaking jobs at New Balance’s three manufacturing plants in Maine and another 500 jobs at its two Massachusetts plants. Although details of the trade agreement remain secret, Vietnam, the world’s No. 2 footwear exporter after China, and Nike, which had sales of $28.7 billion in 2014 and has 67 factories in Vietnam, have been vocal about wanting the agreement to eliminate footwear tariffs on shoes made in Vietnam.
Collins, a Republican, issued a statement after the vote indicating that she voted for the motion to begin debate because the legislation included an extension of Trade Adjustment Assistance, which expired at the end of 2014. She noted that more than 700 Mainers benefitted from TAA programs and that she had co-authored the extension with U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore.
“My vote should not be construed as signifying support for either Trade Promotion Authority or the Trans-Pacific Partnership,” Collins continued in her statement. “I remain very skeptical about granting the president TPA as it paves the way for TPP, which could in turn threaten many American jobs. I am especially concerned about Maine’s shoemaking jobs, some of which could be jeopardized by TPP … Every briefing that I have received on TPP has left me concerned that these workers could be severely disadvantaged by this trade deal. I am concerned that TPP will end up penalizing companies like New Balance that have remained committed to American manufacturing, rather than moving all of their production jobs overseas. Notwithstanding the vote today, unless it differs substantially from where it appears to be heading, I will very likely oppose TPP when it is considered by the Senate.”
King, an Independent, who sided with Democrats in opposing the fast track authority, released the following statement after his vote on Tuesday: “Mainers know all too well the difficulty and hardship of competing on a playing field that’s tilted against them and have felt all too personally the sting of job losses resulting from lopsided trade agreements. Giving the president the authority to fast-track an agreement before Congress has even had the opportunity to review and understand what’s in it would effectively stifle the voices of those who it will impact the most, and that’s not fair. The stakes are just too high for Mainers who deserve to know that we have their back in this fight.”
The administration, which had wider support among Republicans than Democrats, already has indicated that it plans to bring the measure back to the Senate floor for another vote.
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