Each of the three pacts were signed more than four years ago
“We’re not even halfway there yet,” Obama said. “We knew this herve leger was going to take time, because we’ve got this big, messy tough democracy.”
Obama’s former chief of staff, current Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, introduced the president at the fundraiser. Obama said he “couldn’t be more proud” of his former staff member.
“I’ve been watching from Washington, but it seems he’s doing a pretty good job,” Obama said, according to NBC Chicago.
The celebratory crowd, wearing paper birthday hats with “50” and the Obama campaign logo on them, gave the president a loud reception as he took the stage. Sen. Dick Durbin and Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn were among those in attendance in the packed ballroom.
As part of Obama’s birthday events, Democratic officials and campaign aides were fanning out across the country to raise money for Obama. The events included New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo in New York City, Obama campaign adviser David Axelrod in Los Angeles, DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz in Washington, former White House press secretary Robert Gibbs and deputy campaign manager Jen O’Malley Dillon in Boston, and White House adviser David Plouffe in Tampa, Fla. Other events with Democratic surrogates were being held in Austin, Texas and Oakland, Calif.
I look forward to the House passing the FTAs, in tandem with separate consideration of TAA legislation, as soon as possible,” Boehner said in a statement.
“The Administration looks forward to working with leaders of the Senate and House after herve leger clothing Congress returns in September to secure approval of these important initiatives for America’s working families,” Kirk added.
A Republican aide said the White House had insisted on passage of the TAA in exchange for sending the free trade agreements to Congress for votes.
The deal between Reid and McConnell shows there are votes to pass the pacts and the retraining program, the aide said. Senate Republicans will be able to offer amendments to TAA, but the expectation is they will be defeated, the aide added.
Each of the three pacts were signed more than four years ago and the White House had hoped to win their approval before Congress left on its August break.
BOOST TO EXPORTS/JOBS
But the bitter fight over raising the debt ceiling, as well as a disagreement over the TAA program, prevented action on the pacts, which together are expected to boost U.S. exports by about $13 billion and help create or maintain 70,000 jobs.
Meanwhile, a rival deal between the European Union and South Korea went into force on July 1 and another pact between Canada and Colombia takes effect later this month.
Leaders of key House and Senate committees responsible for moving the trade deals said they were prepared to act quickly.
“Working together to enact this package into law needs to be a top priority when we return in September,” said Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, a Democrat.
“Washington must act and act now; we cannot afford to let these trade agreements languish any longer,” said House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp, a Republican.
Many Republicans question the cost and effectiveness of TAA, while Democrats see it as a vital part of the U.S. social safety net to help workers disadvantaged by trade.
The deal reached by McConnell and Reid calls for separate consideration of TAA, but Reid made clear he did not support movement of the trade deals until TAA is approved.
“I agree with the Majority Leader that we have a path forward on TAA and the Free Trade Agreements,” McConnell said in a joint statement with Reid.
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