Johanns: Obama needs to ask for trade authority
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Associated Press - May 10, 2009 3:55 PM ET
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - U.S. Sen. Mike Johanns says he's baffled at why President Barack Obama hasn't asked Congress for trade promotion authority.
It allows presidents to negotiate "fast track" trade agreements with a "yes" or "no" vote from Congress, without letting Congress amend the deal.
Johanns, a Republican who served as President George W. Bush's agriculture secretary, supports giving the authority to the president regardless of the party.
He said if Obama asked, he'd help him get the authority, which was designed to speed the reduction of trade barriers and open new markets with other countries.
On the Net:
Sen. Mike Johanns: http://johanns.senate.gov
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