Omaha World-Herald - House gives its leaders more time on trade bill; Ashford 1 of 3 Democrats who sided with GOP

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President Barack Obama claimed a modest victory Tuesday with approval of a rule giving his congressional allies until the end of July to reconsider the stalled package of trade legislation that Democrats sabotaged last week.

Setting aside initial plans to formally hold a second vote on the initiative, House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, pushed for the new vote to give him until the end of July to revive the existing legislation.

After a morning meeting with his GOP rank-and-file, Boehner said Tuesday that the decision came after "several discussions" with Obama a day earlier.

On a 236-189 vote, Obama relied heavily on Republicans to extend the lifeline on the existing trade legislation.

Rep. Brad Ashford of Nebraska was one of only three Democrats who sided with Republicans on Tuesday's vote.

House members are typically expected to fall in line on these kinds of procedural motions, regardless of their position on the underlying legislation. But Ashford said he could not vote against keeping Obama's trade agenda alive.

"This is so far beyond party politics," Ashford said. "It really is for the good of the country."

Reps. Adrian Smith and Jeff Fortenberry, both Nebraska Republicans, also voted to extend the deadline. So did Reps. David Young and Steve King, both Iowa Republicans.

The vote came as the pro-trade coalition of mostly Republicans and several dozen Democrats in the House and Senate began considering other options toward getting the legislation to the president's desk.

A trio of West Wing officials met with members of the New Democrat Coalition, a group of House Democrats that is largely supportive of expanded global trade, according to lawmakers and aides.

Exiting a huddle of Senate Republican leaders, Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, the majority whip, said that their team had already been in contact with White House officials to figure out other paths toward passage of the entire collection of trade-related bills in the next few weeks.

Later, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said he was willing to carve out more time to consider a newly crafted version of the legislation.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest said Obama has not spoken with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi on trade since Friday's vote.

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