U.S. Senate May Vote On Trade Authority Before Memorial Day

ByJohn S. McClenahen Only one thing seems likely in the ongoing Washington guessing game about when -- or if -- the Senate will vote on new fast-track trade negotiating authority for the White House. And that is that the Senate probably won't vote on what's now called trade-promotion authority (TPA) by April 22, the date that President Bush has urged on Senate Majority Leader Thomas Daschle, D-S.D. The word now is that Daschle will try to schedule a vote for sometime before the lawmakers adjourn for their Memorial Day recess in late May. The House of Representatives approved legislation by a single vote on Dec. 6, 2001. TPA would make it possible for the White House to submit trade deals to Congress to approve or reject -- but not to amend. Such presidential authority lapsed in 1994.