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 In a memo to fellow Republicans, Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy
said the House of Representatives would vote on Thursday on new
funding for a program to help workers hurt by trade, before Friday's
debate on legislation to speed trade deals through Congress. That
tackles a key Democratic concern.
The core legislation - fast-track trade authority for the president
- is a central part of Obama's strategic shift toward Asia. It would
be accomplished in part through the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)
that could boost global economic growth and U.S. exports, while
setting common standards among emerging and rich nations in one of
the world's biggest trade deals.
The legislation would enhance Obama's negotiating clout by letting
Congress set negotiating objectives for trade deals such as the TPP,
but preventing lawmakers from making changes to the final agreement.
The Republican-controlled Rules Committee agreed to hold separate
votes on the worker aid program and fast-track authority on Friday,
a strategy aimed at maximizing votes from both sides of the aisle.
Failure of either vote would mean starting again in the House.
 If the legislation passes, it would reassure Japan, the
second-largest economy, after the United States, involved in the TPP
talks. Japanese officials have said fast-track approval is necessary
for the creation of the 12-nation TPP, which would encompass 40
percent of the world economy.
"Trade votes are never an easy lift around here, but Republicans are
continuing to work, and we're seeing some positive momentum in the
right direction," House Speaker John Boehner said after a
closed-door meeting with fellow Republican lawmakers.
Exiting the meeting, Representative Paul Ryan, who chairs the
powerful House tax committee, said he was "comfortable" that the
measure had enough backing in the House, where Republicans have 246
seats to Democrats' 188.
PLAYING CARDS
But some Republicans want concessions from the White House before
pledging support for the bill.
"We hold some cards that we previously haven't held with this
president, and I think we ought to play them out," said Republican
Kevin Cramer, who wants to lift an oil export ban, a move that would
benefit his state of North Dakota.
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Some Democrats baulked at language that would ensure trade
agreements do not lead to changes in U.S. laws on immigration or
climate change, addressing pet concerns of some Republicans.
The vote was scheduled after congressional aides said House
Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi and Boehner had found a way to pay
for the $2.7 billion worker support program without cutting
healthcare funding for seniors.
A congressional source, who asked not to be identified, said the new
funding, worth $700 million, would come from cracking down on
illegal tax activities. But because that change would be included in
separate legislation, a Democratic aide said members worried it
might not pass - a fear that is addressed by having lawmakers vote
on that measure first.
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said the Senate would work
"expeditiously" to approve the bill and send it to Obama.
Business groups renewed lobbying efforts for fast-track, with a
personalized letter to each lawmaker signed by Business Roundtable
Chairman and AT&T Inc <T.N> Chief Executive Officer Randall
Stephenson, and Thomas Linebarger, CEO of diesel engine-maker
Cummins Inc <CMI.N>.
Amid the infighting over the trade bills that could continue right
up until Friday's votes, many lawmakers were more focused on
Thursday's annual congressional baseball game, a charity fundraiser
that will stop work in Congress that night.
(Additional reporting by David Lawder and Susan Cornwell; Editing by
Jonathan Oatis and Ken Wills)
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