Page 6 - 6-12-15 Frisday's Edition

Presidential/State News
Democrats Align To Doom President’s Trade Bill In Key Vote Friday
Pres. Obama Approves Sending Up To 450 More U. S. Troops To Iraq
The White House an- nounced Wednesday that President Obama has ap- proved sending up to 450 ad- ditional U. S. troops to Iraq, in a bid to boost local forces fighting the Islamic State's ad- vances.
The troops will be sent to help train, advise and assist Iraqi security forces, at a base in eastern Anbar province.
"The President made this de- cision after a request from Prime Minister Haider Al- Abadi and upon the recom- mendation" of top U.S. military officials, the White House said in a statement.
The decision comes after re- cent ISIS gains, most signifi- cantly the takeover of the Anbar capital of Ramadi. Pres. Obama came under criticism earlier this week for saying his administration still did not have a "complete" strategy for ramping up train- ing of Iraqi troops.
While the decision to send more trainers won praise in some corners -- House Speaker John Boehner called it a step in the right di- rection -- the administration continues to face accusations that its strategy in the region is rudderless.
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA
Sen. John McCain of Ari- zona, the Republican chair- man of the Armed Services Committee, was dismissive of Wednesday's decision. "This is incremental-ism at its best or worst, depending on how you describe it," McCain said.
Even Pres. Obama's for- mer military intelligence chief, retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, said in Capitol Hill tes- timony Wednesday that there's "no clear U.S. policy" in Iraq and Syria.
Pres. Obama continues to resist demands for combat troops or for more U. S. sol- diers on the ground to call in air strikes.
President Barack Obama’s trade agenda is running into potentially fatal opposition within his own party on the eve of a critical vote, and there might be only one person who can save it:
Mr. Obama himself.
Speaker John Boehner’s
plan to bring a package of trade bills to the House floor Friday is proving to be a big gamble, as both senior Repub- licans and Democrats are pri- vately wondering whether they have the votes to pass several key portions.
The most pressing concern is over Trade Adjustment As- sistance, a program to retrain workers who lose their jobs to free trade. The initiative is not very popular with Republi- cans, and aides in both parties estimate that only 50 to 100 GOP lawmakers will vote for it. And with unions actively lobbying against the bill, a senior House Democratic aide said it will be “a major prob- lem” to wrangle “significant House Democratic support” for the measure.
Democrats oppose President Obama’s Trade bill.
That jobs assistance bill needs 218 votes to pass. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), a close ally of Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), has been vocal against TAA, and raising other objections about the package.
This is a serious problem for President Obama. If TAA fails, the House will not take up Trade Promotion Author- ity, the key legislation that would give the President fast- track authority to negotiate the sweeping Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement. Under that scenario both sides would have to regroup and fig- ure out a way forward — or
else the 12-nation trade deal could fall apart.
At a Democratic whip meet- ing Thursday morning, Labor Secretary Tom Perez tried to convince lawmakers to ap- prove the package.
Democrats wanted to better understand the process Boehner plans to use. Pelosi, in the meeting, said the Medicare offset that has an- gered liberals has been fixed, in a sign she’s growing frus- trated with liberal opposition.
White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough and Perez are expected to meet with all House Democrats at noon in the Capitol.
Gov. Rick Scott Signs 24-Hour Abortion Wait Period, Utility Company Reforms
TALLAHASSEE - Diving into an issue that continues to polarize the country, Gov. Rick Scott signed into law a requirement that Florida women visit a doctor and wait at least 24 hours before having an abortion.
Though it won widespread support in the Republican- controlled Legislature, the issue was one of the most emo- tionally-charged questions tackled in the spring session. Word of its passage was quick to trigger passionate defense among pro-life supporters along with raising the ire of pro-choice activists.
The measure, which goes into effect July 1, is one of 55 bills signed by Scott late Wednesday. Among other high-profile issues: One new law attempts to make utility companies more consumer- friendly, while another seeks to end abuse in assisted living facilities.
Opponents of the new wait- ing period say it isn’t necessary because women who choose to
GOV. RICK SCOTT
have an abortion have already put thought into their deci- sion. Plus, they argue, it cre- ates a burden, particularly for women who live far away from abortion clinics and could struggle to visit the doctor once, let alone twice.
“Women who choose to have an abortion have weighed all the options and have come to a decision,” said Sen. Arthe- nia Joyner, D-Tampa. “It works to the disadvantage of a lot of women who have to come from out of town to get to the provider who’s going to perform the procedure.”
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