Portman joins Dems to limit Trump on tariffs

WASHINGTON — After the Senate last year did not act on the measure, Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, joined a group of Democrats and Republicans last week to re-introduce a bill which would limit President Donald Trump’s authority to impose tariffs.

Last year t he Tr u mp administration cited national security reasons for imposing tariffs on imports of steel and aluminum from Canada and the European Union. Trump relied on what is known as section 232 of a 1962 law which gives the president the Our Washington Bureau keeps you updated on the news you need out of D.C. Join the discussion on our Ohio Politics Facebook page. power to impose tariffs on another country’s exports if the U.S. Department of Commerce concludes they pose a national security threat.

Critics pointed out neither steel exports from Canada or the EU did not pose any national security threat to the United States.

Those close to Portman believe the bill has a better chance of getting through the Senate this year because the new chairman of the Senate Finance Committee – Republican Charles Grassley of Iowa – appears sympathetic to the Ohio Republican’s approach.

Portman has co-sponsored the bill with Republicans Joni Ernst of Iowa and Lamar Alexander of Tennessee and Dem- ocrats Dianne Feinstein of California and Doug Jones of Alabama. It would only allow the president to impose tariffs for legitimate national security concerns.

Portman, who served as U.S. Trade Representative under former President George W. Bush, said misusing our trade tools not only hurts our exports and our manufacturers, but also our consumers.”

Obergefell says he’d back Sherrod Brown

Jim Obergefell of Cincinnati, who led a successful challenge to Ohio’s ban on same-sex marriage, said last week he would support Sen. Sherrod Brown for the 2020 Democratic presiden- tial nomination.

“I think Senator Brown is one of the best advocates we have in the Senate,” Obergefell said on Brown’s weekly conference call. “If he ran for president, would I vote for him? Absolutely.”

The U.S. Supreme Court in 2015 struck down Ohio’s ban, ruling the U.S. Constitution requires states to issue marriage licenses for same-sex couples and recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states.

Brown to face reporters at breakfast

Brown will be questioned by national reporters Tuesday morning at the Christian Science Monitor’s breakfast. The breakfast, which often features some of the most influential people in Washington, is a necessary stop for those considering a run for the presidency.

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