GOP's McConnell opposes nuclear treaty
Senate Minority Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) walks near the Senate floor during an unusual Sunday session on Capitol Hill in Washington. McConnell said Sunday he would oppose a nuclear arms treaty with Russia, damaging prospects for President Barack Obama's foreign policy priority in the final days of the post-election Congress. (Dec. 19, 2010) Credit: AP
WASHINGTON - The Senate's Republican leader said yesterday he would oppose a nuclear arms treaty with Russia, complicating President Barack Obama's drive to secure a foreign policy victory in the final days of the Congress. Senior Democrats expressed confidence the Senate would ratify the accord by year's end.
The White House and Democrats are determined to win approval of the landmark treaty before January, when Republicans increase their numbers in the Senate, dimming its outlook. During a rare Sunday debate in the Senate, Democrats beat back a GOP amendment to change the treaty, which would have effectively killed it.
Hours earlier, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) dealt a blow to hopes for strong bipartisan support, criticizing the treaty's verification system and expressing concern that the pact would limit U.S. missile defense options, even though Obama insisted that the treaty imposes no restrictions on missile defense.
"Rushing it right before Christmas strikes me as trying to jam us," McConnell said on CNN's "State of the Union." "I think that was not the best way to get the support of people like me."
While McConnell's opposition did not come as a surprise, it unnerved the treaty's backers.
Treaties require a two-thirds majority, and Republican votes are critical to Obama's success in getting the landmark agreement.
Democrats expect to get 57 votes from their caucus, with Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) absent next week because of cancer surgery. Four Republicans: Richard Lugar of Indiana, Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins of Maine and George Voinovich of Ohio, said they back the treaty.
Several Republicans said Obama's letter to congressional leaders Saturday vowing to move ahead on missile defense carried considerable sway.
"It takes care of me," said Sen. Robert Bennett (R-Utah), who indicated he was leaning toward voting for the treaty.
Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed the accord, known as New START, in April. It would limit each country's strategic nuclear warheads to 1,550, down from the current ceiling of 2,200. It would also establish a system for monitoring and verification.
Snow totals may be less across the South Shore A winter storm is expected to pummel LI as artic air settles in across the region. NewsdayTV meteorologist Geoff Bansen has the forecast.
Snow totals may be less across the South Shore A winter storm is expected to pummel LI as artic air settles in across the region. NewsdayTV meteorologist Geoff Bansen has the forecast.
