Senate GOP shoots down unanimous consent request on trade, healthcare tax credits

Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) on Thursday thwarted an attempt by Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and Bob Casey (D-Pa.) to extend two expiring trade programs for 18 months by unanimous consent. The two Democrats proposed extending the Andean Trade Preferences Act (ATPA), and the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA), and Health Insurance Tax Cut Credit.

Barrasso said he could not allow the UC requests to pass the proposals because they would also extend spending that originated within the 2009 stimulus package.

"Specifically the proposal would extend provisions from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, better known as the failed stimulus package, which most members of this side of the aisle strenuously opposed for very sound reasons," said Barrasso. "That stimulus spent approximately a trillion dollars under the guise that it would keep unemployment rates down."

But Brown countered that the money should be continued to be spent, and the economy stimulated.

"It's a winner for business, it's a winner for workers, it's a winner for the economy," said Brown prior to Barrasso's objection. "I hope Republicans don't object to this."

Barrasso also shot down a request from Casey to extend the provisions for four months until Mother's Day.

The senators engaged in several minute of colloquy and then Barrasso offered his own UC provision on extending the trade agreements without the additional stimulus spending.

Brown objected to that UC request.