Boehner: Trade process has been ‘bizarre’

A major trade package has been on a roller-coaster ride in Congress, with Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) describing the legislative process Thursday as “close to bizarre.”

He and President Obama have been working closely on a deal to pass trade bills through both chambers, but Boehner said he hadn’t necessarily learned any lessons that could be applied to future negotiations on spending or other matters.

{mosads}“I would describe most of what’s gone on over the last three weeks as close to bizarre,” the Speaker told reporters Thursday before a trade vote. “I don’t think I’ve learned anything from it.”

The House on Thursday afternoon was expected to send the Senate a bill granting Obama broader fast-track trade powers, which he needs to complete a major trade deal with 11 other Pacific Rim nations.

But this is the second go-round for the House. Last week, the chamber narrowly voted to pass the fast-track bill, known as Trade Promotion Authority (TPA). But procedural rules prevented it from being sent to the president, when Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and other Democrats bucked Obama and voted down a related workers training and education bill in a bid to derail fast-track.

It’s unclear how the Senate will react to the new stand-alone TPA bill from the House. Boehner said he hopes the Senate will vote to send the House a separate trade preferences bill, including the worker aid bill called Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA), by late next week.

Obama has said he wants both TAA and TPA on his desk before he signs either into law.

“The president and I, while we may have our disagreements on policy issues, have enjoyed a very good working relationship,” said Boehner, who’s been on the phone with Obama on nearly a daily basis to get the trade package passed.

“Where we find common ground, we’re able to work together and get things accomplished on behalf of the American people.”