Max Baucus: “I agree with much of what the minority leader said. I very much believe we should negotiate free-trade agreements with…”

“I agree with much of what the minority leader said. I very much believe we should negotiate free-trade agreements with other countries. I think we are behind the curve. Other countries are negotiating. We are being left behind. We should negotiate agreements that are good agreements. The amendment offered by the Senator from Kentucky, however, is the 2002 version. A lot has changed in the last 10 years. There are environmental provisions, labor, and China is very much a competitor. I think it would be unwise to extend TPA because there are changes in the world today that this version does not reflect. It has to be updated to the current times. Second, if this amendment would pass, then we wouldn't be getting free-trade agreements. The Speaker has made it very clear he wants a clean bill and then he will take up TAA--this bill--which many of us support by a large margin, and then he will take up the free-trade agreements. So if this body wants TAA and wants the FTAs, we have to vote against this amendment at this time. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question is on agreeing to amendment No. 626, as modified, offered by the Senator from Kentucky, Mr. McConnell. Mr. McCONNELL. I ask for the yeas and nays. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second? There appears to be a sufficient second. The clerk will call the roll. The bill clerk called the roll. The result was announced--yeas 45, nays 55, as follows: [Rollcall Vote No.…”