Fresno Bee: Valley labor, environmental interests press Costa to oppose fast-track on trade agreement

Representatives of labor unions, the Sierra Club and Central Valley-Sierra Progressives gathered Thursday in front of Rep. Jim Costa’s district office in downtown Fresno to urge the Democratic legislator to oppose a streamlined approval process for a politically divisive trade pact backed by President Obama. [Reposted from The Fresno Bee  |  Tim Sheehan  |  May…

Politico: McConnell tees up critical vote

Mitch McConnell is calling Harry Reid’s bluff. With his move to tee up a critical trade vote for Tuesday, the Senate majority leader challenged Reid (D-Nev.) to make good on his threat to block movement on trade until the Senate determines a strategy for surveillance legislation and highway funding. [Reposted from Politico  |  Sueng Min…

The Hill: Top Dem: Obama’s trade push falling short

The Obama administration’s full-court press on trade isn’t racking up enough Democratic votes to move the president’s agenda through Congress, Rep. Sandy Levin (D-Mich.) said Thursday. [Reposted from The Hill  |  Vicki Needham  |  May 7, 2015] The Obama administration’s full-court press on trade isn’t racking up enough Democratic votes to move the president’s agenda…