The Nation - News from April 26, 1988

The Senate moved closer to a final vote on sweeping trade legislation, with Democratic leaders calling on President Reagan to back away from a threatened veto of the landmark bill. If the Administration kills the legislation, “Champagne corks will be popping in Japan and Germany,” Sen. Lloyd Bentsen (D-Tex.), the bill’s floor manager, said during the second day of debate on the bill. Bentsen called on the President to sign the bill despite a provision strongly opposed by the Administration that would require companies to notify workers 60 days before massive layoffs or a plant closure. The Senate is expected to pass the bill easily today or Wednesday, following the lead of the House, which last week approved the measure 312 to 107.