US VS. THEM:

 Legislation to strengthen President Barack Obama's hand for future trade deals moved toward committee approval in the House on Thursday courtesy of Republicans and over the protests of Democrats, a political role reversal that portends a bruising struggle for passage later this spring.

The maneuvering in the House Ways and Means Committee marked the second straight day the Republican-controlled Congress lined up to hand Obama a victory on trade. The Senate Finance Committee approved a nearly identical bill on Wednesday night that would limit lawmakers to voting yes or no without making changes in trade deals like one now taking shape among Pacific-area trading partners.

"They're waiting for this to put their best offers on the table," Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., the House committee chairman, said of negotiating partners that include Japan and Singapore as well as Chile and Peru.

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