Democrats dragging their feet on free trade agreements

President Obama keeps demanding that Congress pass the free trade agreements with Colombia, South Korea, and Panama that have been sitting on his desk for 32 months. There was a trickle of progress last week; the Senate passed funding for the Trade Adjustment Assistance Program, which was set up to assist workers who have lost their jobs because of foreign competition.

Apparently, as The Hill reports, that's not enough. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) is dead-set against the FTAs, and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi is cool to them too, declaring "The White House may support [free trade agreements], but the Congress may have a different view."

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has a different view from Pelosi's, "[T]he White House has no more excuses." the Kentuckian said. "The time has come to send the three pending free trade agreements to Congress."

Obama needs to change his pleading in regards to FTAs. Something along the lines of, "Democrats, pass the free trade agreements so we can create jobs," is a more honest sales pitch.

Related post:

Obama's obfuscation on free trade agreements; Biggert jobs plan

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