WSJ: Bernie Sanders Expects Trade Promotion Bill to Pass Senate Over His Opposition

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) said he expected a deal to ease congressional passage of trade agreements would pass the Senate, despite his own opposition.

“I strongly disagree with the president on trade,” Mr. Sanders said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal Monday, noting that he had discussed the issue with President Barack Obama recently. The Vermont lawmaker said previous trade agreements had destroyed U.S. jobs and reduced wages at other U.S. firms trying to be more competitive with overseas companies. “I don’t think the president is going to change my mind,” Mr. Sanders said.

“They have been abysmal failures,” Mr. Sanders said of earlier trade agreements. The White House is working on persuading some Democrats to support legislation, known as trade promotion authority or fast track, allowing Congress to set negotiating priorities for the administration and provide input, while ensuring a deal struck overseas would get a congressional vote with no amendments or procedural delays.

The lawmaker, who caucuses with Democrats, said he held out hope that the measure might not clear the House. Colleagues have said “there’s a shot they can beat it,” in that chamber, he said.

http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2015/02/23/bernie-sanders-expects-trade-promotion-bill-to-pass-senate/

There are two videos as well. One is: The Senator down with WSJ’s Jerry Seib Monday to talk taxes, infrastructure, fast track and trade agreements.

The others is: Sen. Sanders also talks to WSJ’s Jerry Seib about hurdles to a potential 2016 campaign.

Both are really good.