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Trade Promotion Authority blocked in Senate

Senate Democrats blocked legislation Tuesday that would have granted President Obama trade promotion authority.

The Senate voted 52-45 – eight votes short – on a procedural motion to begin debating the TPA bill.  The granting of so-called fast track authority to the president is considered a key to moving the Trans Pacific Partnership and other trade deals through Congress by up or down votes, but without amendments.

The vote is a victory for Senate Democrats who oppose fast-track and have spoken out against the Trans Pacific Partnership now being negotiated.

Failure to pass Trade Promotion Authority came after pro-trade Democrats, said they would vote against debating the measure because it lacked some trade protections.