So much for Mitch McConnell's "robust amendment process". After the Senate debating only 2 amendments thus far (& possibly 2 more Wednesday), McConnell has already filed plans to invoke cloture to cut off debate on the Fast Track bill — despite a docket of over 100 proposed amendments from members of both parties.
More below...
Harry Reid, through a spokesman, called out this premature move:
.@StewSays Republicans' offer is 2-4 amendment votes then shut down debate - hardly "robust" or "open." Dems want more amends & more debate.
— Adam Jentleson (@AJentleson) May 19, 2015
...but with the Democratic caucus being much looser this week, all Senatorial eyes are on the self-styled "pro-trade Democrats" led by Patty Murray & Ron Wyden — though Wyden, for his part, insists he's using his leverage to get as many amendments as possible. That said, for him that seems to mean that
any amendments, however few & inconsequential, would be enough to get his support for cloture.
Meanwhile Orrin Hatch, being opposed to any amendments, supports McConnell's move — yet his colleague Lindsey Graham opposes, joining with Maria Cantwell in calling for a vote on funding for the Export-Import Bank before the June 30th deadline.
Also, Rob Portman & Debbie Stabenow want a vote on a currency-manipulation amendment (which the White House, in a flip-flop from their position last week, have now explicitly threatened to veto rather than accommodate).
Barbara Boxer, moreover, has said that she will pull out all stops to slow-walk the bill unless she is allowed to vote on the amendments she supports.
The Hill has articles on this here & here. (Fair warning: the 2nd may make you want to throw something.)