Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell pushed back against President Obama Tuesday, saying the U.S. Senate is prepared to support a pair of trade bills, adding that the current stalemate is the fault of union leaders.
Mr. McConnell, writing in the Washington Post, noted that the White House has blamed congressional Republicans for holding up the trade deals, noting that the notion is “absurd, because Congress can’t ratify trade deals until the president submits them for congressional approval.”
“For nearly three years, Republicans and a number of Democrats have been calling on the president to approve these deals” to create jobs, boost the economy, and strengthen ties “with three important allies,” Mr. McConnell said.
The debate over the proposed trade bills involving deals with Colombia, South Korea and Panama comes as Mr. Obama is scheduled to address a joint session of Congress on Thursday. Mr. Obama, who continues to face a steady decline in support, according to recent polls, will reportedly call for a series of economic measures in order to lower the nation’s rate of unemployment, which remains above 9 percent.
Writing Tuesday, Mr. McConnell said the Obama administration’s catering to union leader would cost the nation jobs in the form of stalled trade deals.
“What’s the real holdup? For three years, the administration has delayed finalizing these deals because unions have been extracting concessions in exchange for their support,” the Kentucky Republican alleged.
“These delays have put America at a major economic disadvantage, costing jobs and opportunities,” Mr. McConnell added. “As the president has been holding out over the demands of labor union leaders, other countries are benefiting from free-trade deals of their own.”
Mr. McConnnell’s piece follows fiery speeches Mr. Obama and Vice President Joe Biden over Labor Day weekend. Speaking to a crowd of supporters in Michigan, Mr. Obama praised union leaders.
“When I hear some of these folks trying to take collective bargaining rights away, trying to pass so-called right-to-work laws … I know it’s not about economics, it’s about politics,” Mr. Obama told supporters.
