Obama trade bill in trouble

The measure, a top White House priority, is drawing serious opposition from both parties.

By Jake Sherman, John Bresnahan and Doug Palmer

4/29/15 6:49 PM EDT

Updated 4/30/15 10:09 AM EDT

The House is currently dozens of votes short of being able to pass legislation that would allow President Barack Obama to send trade deals to Congress for fast approval, according to senior lawmakers and aides in both parties, imperiling a top White House priority for the president’s final years in office.

At this point, upward of 75 House Republicans could vote against trade promotion authority if it comes up for a vote in the coming weeks, according to aides and lawmakers involved in the process. Some of the lawmakers fear job losses in their districts from free trade; others distrust Obama and oppose giving him more power.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2015/04/barack-obama-trade-bill-in-trouble-117485.html