Lighthizer expected to win committee approval to lead trade office

President Trump’s nominee to lead the nation’s trade office is expected to get a vote in the Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday after months in a holding pattern. 

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and the committee’s top Democrat, Ron Wyden (Ore.) reached a breakthrough agreement that will allow a vote on U.S. Trade Representative-designee Robert Lighthizer as well as consideration of a congressional waiver so he can take the helm of the agency.

{mosads}“While I have said throughout this process that I do not believe a waiver is necessary for this nominee, I have, at the same time, pledged my support to working with our committee colleagues on the issue so long as it was kept separate from unrelated demands,” Hatch in a statement on Monday.

Democrats have insisted that Lighthizer needs the House and the Senate to approve a waiver because he represented foreign governments in trade negotiations or disputes in 1985 and 1991.

Committee approval of those items is expected to be followed by a Hatch colloquy where he will agree to take action at the committee level on a bill that would protect healthcare and pension benefits of more than 22,000 retired coal miners, an aide told The Hill. 

Hatch has expressed frustration with Democrats’ demand that the coal miners’ bill be attached to a waiver for Lighthizer. 

Democrats have repeatedly urged Hatch to take action on the miners’ legislation before taking up the Lighthizer nomination.

Congress passed a four-month extension of miners’ benefits in December, but that short-term patch is set to expire at the end of the week.

Lighthizer is expected to win approval from the Senate panel.