Governors express support for trade deals, TAA

More support came rolling in Monday for Congress to move forward on three pending free trade agreements while reauthorizing a program that helps workers displaced by trade. 

In a letter to congressional leaders, 25 governors expressed support for all three trade agreements with Korea, Panama and Colombia and fast-track authority for President Obama to push the deals through Congress, while also endorsing a renewal of the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program, with the 2009 changes.

"We must think holistically about international trade and recognize that world trade can cause economic adjustment that require training and temporary support to individuals in impacted industries," the governors said in a letter. 

Governors from 23 states, Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming and two territories Guam and Puerto Rico signed the letter. 

In a separate letter on Monday, 41 Senate Democrats told the White House that they are backing a move by the Obama administration calling for reauthorization of an aid program that helps U.S. workers displaced by trade before moving ahead with three pending free trade agreements. 

Led by Sherrod Brown (Ohio), Debbie Stabenow (Mich.), Jay Rockefeller (W.Va.), Robert Casey (D-Pa.), Jeff Bingaman (N.M.) and Maria Cantwell (Wash.) -- sent the letter to President Obama expressing support for his decision not to submit the pending agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea to Congress until a deal is struck to extend a long-term extension TAA.