Ex-Im fight spills into trade debate

The Senate debate on trade promotion authority has become mired in a dispute over the Export-Import Bank that could complicate the push to pass the bill before the end of the week.

Senate Republican Whip John Cornyn (Texas) told reporters that Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) is objecting to votes on amendments unless she gets a vote on a proposal to reauthorize the bank. Its charter expires at the end of June.

{mosads}“I don’t understand how blocking amendments on trade helps the proponents of Ex-Im Bank,” he said. “I would think that those proponents would want to work with the leader, who actually is the one who schedules floor action, as opposed to just obstruct.”

Democrats have threatened to block a final vote on trade promotion authority (TPA), also called fast-track, unless they have an opportunity to offer amendments to the legislation. So far, the Senate has voted on only two amendments, and six are currently pending on the floor.

Cornyn said there is some discussion of attaching the Ex-Im reauthorization to a long-term highway funding bill that the Senate is expected to consider in July. Congress is set to pass a two-month extension of highway funding before leaving town for its Memorial Day recess.

Cornyn said the Ex-Im language would not be attached to the short-term road funding extension, which is likely to pass by unanimous consent.

Cantwell has said she doesn’t want to take up the reauthorization weeks after the bank’s charter expires. 

“That’s part of Sen. Cantwell’s concerns, and I understand that. But we have frequently done things that have expired and then done them retroactively,” Cornyn said.

Cantwell’s spokesman was not available for comment, but the senator said Tuesday that she would continue to object to the trade bill until she was told that the bank’s charter would be extended. 

“Until our colleagues give us an answer about something we’ve been clear about for more than a year, we are going to continue to object,” she said. “We’re not going to let this bank expire, the credit agency, without a fight.” 

The No. 2 Republican said he was not aware of any other disputes holding up votes on amendments.

Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), a leading opponent of the fast-track bill, said Democrats are blocking amendments to make sure the “debate is not entirely shut down.” 

“We want to make sure Sen. Cantwell gets her Ex-Im Bank provisions as part of TPA,” he told reporters during a conference call. 

The Ohio Democrat added the fight over extending the bank’s charter has “become a part” of the trade fight. 

“How do you kill the Ex-Im Bank the same week you pass a trade agreement?” he said. 

While the business community backs Ex-Im, including it in the trade bill would likely doom the legislation in the House, where conservatives disparage it as a form of corporate welfare.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) blamed Democrats for the impasse on the trade bill.

“I would remind our colleagues that even with my strong support, the Senate can’t have a robust amendment process if every single amendment offered by Democrats or Republicans is objected to by our friends on the other side,” the Republican leader said. 

“The Senate can’t vote on amendments that are being prevented.”

Jordain Carney contributed.