U.S. trade legislation vote expected Friday

The new Congress is working much more smoothly than the old. It's good to see bi-partisan cooperation on important issues like free trade.

If Republican leaders like John Boehner and Mitch McConnell desperately want the TPP ratified, it ain't good for John Q. Taxpayer, Joe the Plumber or Mrs. Watanabe. You can count on that. Free trade legislation ultimately enriches the 1% and makes the rest of us working poor. You can count on it.

The new Congress is working much more smoothly than the old. It's good to see bi-partisan cooperation on important issues like free trade.

Yes, Democrats don't act like a bunch of children when they don't get their way and filibuster everything anonymously like Republicans did for the past 6 years. But they still have an issue in their own party trying to get anything meaningful done... I'm actually surprised Boehner is working with Obama and because of that, is probably the reason why they need Democrat votes. Luckily Democrats are making Republicans do something for the people in this country through a jobs retraining programs. Republicans wouldn't of thought of that on their own. But if Republicans where really serious they would tackle more important things like an Education bill, Clean Energy bill, Infrastructure bill or Immigration bill. But it's not likely they will think of that either...

Yes, Democrats don't act like a bunch of children when they don't get their way and filibuster everything anonymously like Republicans did for the past 6 years.

You are right - but filibusters are part of the institution. When Democrats are in charge they just don't allow votes on anything. In other words, Harry Reid and his partisans just took his little ball and went home.

Republicans are crazy to work for Obama's agenda. It's not like Obama has helped them with their priorities. Boehner should just have his caucus vote it down and try again in 2017 when there could be a Republican president.

Free trade? Not even the AP writers mentioned this phrase. This is a very short article, why did it need two writers?

Job retraining for jobs that don't exist ... A feel-good measure that will help Congess feel better about shafting workers in the US.

Oh the jobs exist alright. Just not on your Government-propped-up farm, Farmboy. I still find it unbelievable that U.S. farmers were paid by the government to NOT grow their crops. In between tariff protection and government subsidies, U.S. farms are coddled way too much. Because of the tariffs on foreign agricultural goods entering the U.S., American citizens PAY THROUGH THE NOSE compared to what they COULD be paying... just to keep the farming corporations profitable.

Republicans are crazy to work for Obama's agenda.

You've got it the wrong way around. The REPUBLICANS are supporting this an Obama is bucking his own party by pushing for it as well.

The thing everybody glosses over is that if this legislation is approved, the TPP is still no closer to including the United States. All this legislation (if approved) will do is allow the President to submit the trade agreement for approval without worrying about congress delaying it or modifying it. Congress gets a yes or no decision based on the agreement "as-is". If Congress rejects the agreement, then the Administration has to go back to the negotiating table and try to fix what Congress didn't like.