Dealmaker Trump and Democrats Legislative Victory

Dealmaker Trump and Democrats Legislative Victory

An influential Republican senator clashed with top trade officials of President Trump. It happened during the Tuesday morning conference call. The GOP resignation and discontent about the trade deal issues with Mexico and Canada began to grow. The White House and Congressional Democrats were separately touting a significant victory. Trump wants his legislative accomplishments to happen soon. 

US, Mexico, Canada

Three officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss details of the private conversation.  They said Sen. Patrick J. Toomey (R-Pa.) was frustrated about provisions of the new North American trade. Additionally, the U.S. Trade Representative Robert E. Lighthizer talked to Senate Republicans about the details of the deal. 

On the private call, Toomey’s aides declined to comment. Moreover, the senator said that the administration gave too many concessions at the expense of the priorities of Republicans.

Toomey said on Tuesday that in fairness to Bob Lighthizer, there were a lot of discussions early on. But the last few proposals did not include Lighthizer. It seems to him the debate was in the one-way direction of the Democrats.

The enthusiastic support of AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka’s and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-Calif.) won the revised trade agreement with Mexico and Canada. The union is signaling to many Republicans that the phase-one deal is not going in their favor. Despite the additional government spending that would entail the new benefits, lawmakers unveiled a White House-backed defense bill that includes 12 weeks of paid parental leave for federal workers.

 

Trump’s Campaign

This move shows Trump’s eagerness to secure the legislative accomplishments that he would highlight during his 2020 presidential campaign. The White House’s confidence risks a little backlash from a GOP increasingly molded in an image of Trump, according to the anonymous source.

Trump Campaign

Amidst the congressional Democrats’ and White Houses’ increasing feuding over the impeachment probe, the parallel compromises appeared surprising even though they angered some congressional Republicans.

During a closed-door meeting on Tuesday, Pelosi told other House Democrats that “we ate their lunch.” She referred to multiple changes officials of White House made to the trade deal in recent weeks. It happened for the win of the support from labor groups, Pelosi added.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) waged a weeks-long pressure campaign against House Democrats to pry loose the frozen trade deal. He was candid about the merits of the agreement.

McConnell said on Tuesday that from his perspective, the deal is not going as good as he hoped. But they have to look at the whole package, added Senate Majority Leader.

For the revision of the North American Free trade Agreement, Trump agreed to make pro-labor changes. For one of his top campaign promises, he seeks congressional backing. The parental-leave reform is part of a bill that will create a Space Force military branch. Trump first announced the idea about the Space Force last year, and many supporters rallied behind that idea.

It will be the most significant expansion for federal workers in nearly three decades if the parental-leave plan will be approved. It will most probably happen, despite the opposition from the GOP senator to the measure tasked with overseeing government affairs.