A critical component of President Barack Obama's trade agenda and his economic legacy passed a critical hurdle after the measure garnered enough Democratic support to move forward in the Senate, NBC News reported. The bill would give Obama "fast track" authority to negotiate, without the threat of congressional filibusters or added amendments, a massive 12-nation trade pact known as the Trans Pacific Partnership. The vote almost failed as a result of opposition from pro-trade Democrats who wanted amendment votes on unrelated provisions that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, would not allow. Now that today's motion has passed, the Senate will finish consideration of the bill in the coming days. If opponents of the bill choose to delay the process, final consideration could seep into the weekend.
