Obama to Americans (paraphrase): "Sorry, suckers - I'm with the GOP on offshoring your jobs"

http://www.newsday.com/news/white-house-lawmakers-break-trade-pact-stalemate-1.2990849

Deal reached to advance US trade pacts

Originally published: June 28, 2011 11:42 AM
Updated: June 28, 2011 8:50 PM
By The Associated Press JULIE PACE (Associated Press)

WASHINGTON - (AP) -- The White House and congressional lawmakers reached a deal Tuesday to propel three coveted free trade agreements toward a vote on Capitol Hill, though the ultimate fate of the pacts with South Korea, Colombia and Panama remained uncertain.

Key lawmakers from both parties struck an agreement with the administration to extend aid for American workers displaced by foreign trade. The White House, acknowledging concerns from labor unions, had threatened to hold up passage of the pacts unless the Trade Adjustment Assistance program, or TAA, was renewed.

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The pro-business U.S. Chamber of Commerce also urged lawmakers to move quickly to pass the pacts.

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Labor unions and key Democrats continue to have deep concerns in particular over the deal with Colombia, a country considered extremely dangerous for union organizers. While Colombia has agreed to implement an action plan for protecting worker rights and ending violence against union groups, the top Democrat on the House Ways and Means Committee, Rep. Sander Levin of Michigan, said Monday that he would oppose the trade deal if it did not include specific language committing Colombia to carry out those steps.