Democrats square off over trade negotiating bill

Obama said during a news conference that some Democrats and labor unions would oppose the pact, while others "believe that we cannot stop a global economy at our shores." But he said previous trade agreements reached during his presidency did not divide the party. Congressional Democrats drew battle lines on Friday over a new bill that would give the White House "fast track" authority to negotiate the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) with 11 other Pacific Rim countries, with some vowing to block the massive trade pact. Senator Ron Wyden, the Oregon Democrat who co-authored the legislation introduced on Thursday with top Republicans overseeing trade issues, said it would attract votes from trade-wary Democrats. I believe it will pass the Finance Committee," Wyden told a media breakfast sponsored by the Christian Science Monitor.

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