WASHINGTON, D.C.–Fast track authority for Pres. Obama to make trade deals with other counties passed the U.S. Senate easily Wednesday, on a vote of 60 to 38. Both of Mississippi’s Republican senators voted yes on the Trade Promotion Authority vote.
The bill now goes to Pres. Obama for his signature to make it law.
News Mississippi has gotten feedback from viewers of newsms.fm, saying they believed the bill is shady because some parts of it were not made available to the public.
Democrats voted against the bill, in general, with 14 Senate Democrats joining Republicans in voting yes.
“I think the relationship between the president, myself and Sen. McConnell’s been very good,” said House Speaker John Boehner, following the vote, speaking of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kent.).
“There’s been a lot of coordination to get this across the finish line, and I’m proud of the work that we’ve done.”
While both senators Roger Wicker and Thad Cochran released statements on the Mississippi flag Wednesday, neither released a statement on their Trade Bill vote. News Mississippi reached out to Wicker’s office for an interview. He was unavailable.
The bill also gives certain government employees, like firefighters, law enforcement and air traffic controllers the ability to make penalty-free withdrawals on their retirement after age 50.
