Romney Vice Presidential Prospect Backs McCaskill Trade Legislation

(Washington, DC) -- U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio), announced his support this week for legislation that aims to ease the trade process for American manufacturers and limit earmarks in a Senate trade bill.

Portman, currently on Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney's vice presidential short list, signed on to legislation co-sponsored by U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Missouri), as she seeks to highlight her moderate credentials ahead of this year' election.

McCaskill said she felt gratified that Portman, along with a handful of other Republican leaders, were able to come together behind the legislation and vowed to continue her opposition to earmarks.

"We've already seen leaders in the U.S. House try to sneak around the earmark ban and nab taxpayer dollars for their own pet projects," McCaskill said, "so I'm going to stay vigilant while reducing unnecessary burdens for Missouri's employers."

As written, the legislation would instruct the International Trade Commission to "pre-screen" duty suspension proposals in the miscellaneous tariff bill and certify that the bill does not violate Congress's ban on earmarks, Roll Call reported this week.