Trade deals could be completed next week

Lawmakers could expedite three pending free trade-deals ahead of the Korean president's state visit next week. 

Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) announced Thursday that his panel will take up the trade deals with Colombia, South Korea and Panama on Tuesday afternoon after lawmakers return from the Columbus Day holiday. 

There is a push to complete the deals before Korean President Lee Myung-bak’s visit to the White House on Oct. 13.

"We're eager to vote and hope to pass them before the Korea president's visit," a Senate Republican aide told The Hill. 

The developing plan is for the House and Senate to hold votes on Wednesday, a move that would require the Senate to limit debate on the trade deals. Under fast-track authority, 20 hours of debate are set aside for trade agreements, but that could be cut if Senate leadership can reach an agreement. 

The House Rules Committee met Thursday to provide a rule for all three accords and a bill that includes Generalized System of Preferences and Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA).

Without an agreement on debate time, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) would need to invoke cloture, requiring 60 votes to move forward with debate. 

Reid said on Thursday morning he would like to have the Senate vote as early as Wednesday. 

Senate Republicans have professed broad support for the trade deals. After a long debate over the TAA program, President Obama sent the pacts to Capitol Hill on Tuesday.