House Democrats Derail Obama's Trade Bill

House Democrats derailed President Barack Obama's trade bill Friday, hours after Obama personally went to Capitol hill to plead with fellow Democrats to pass the measure.

The 302-126 vote leaves the The Trade Promotion Authority bill in limbo. It would give the president fast-track trade-negotiating powers, allowing him to present Congress with trade agreements that lawmakers could either ratify or reject, but not change.
 
"I don't think you ever nail anything down around here. It's always moving," the president said as he departed

Democrats objected to the bill but had little hope of blocking its approval in the Republican-controlled House. Instead they've been talking about voting to reject a companion measure that they actually support.

That measure would provide funding to retrain Americans who have lost their jobs because of international trade. Democrats say they're willing to sacrifice that program in order to bring down the entire plan.

House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, sided with the president, saying the bill is good for American workers.

"If we work together it will be a big win for American jobs and American leadership," Boehner said before the vote. "It is about China out there writing the rules for the global economy and if we stay on the sidelines our allies will gravitate back to China, away from us and away from our workers."

If the president obtains fast track authority, he hopes to advance a Trans-Pacific Partnership with 11 other nations, including Japan and Vietnam.