After the defeat of three amendments to the START treaty yesterday, Republican support has lined up for the nuclear arms reduction measure. Yesterday Scott Brown gave his support; today it was Lamar Alexander, the number 3 ranking Republican in the Senate, to give his blessing. It was a compassionate statement:
“I will vote to ratify the New START treaty…because it leaves our country with enough nuclear warheads to blow anyone to kingdom come,” said Alexander, the third-ranking Republican, said on the Senate floor.
Alexander said that the support from former military and diplomatic officials — including many Republicans — helped push him toward supporting ratification.
The treaty picked up momentum after a closed-door session on Monday in which senators were allowed to confidentially discuss the treaty and receive a briefing on it.
Johnny Isakson, who got a lot of pressure from fellow Georgian and arms reduction stalwart, former Sen. Sam Nunn, will also support the treaty. You can add to those three Dick Lugar, Olympia Snowe, Susan Collins, Thad Cochran, Bob Bennett, Bob Corker, George Voinovich and Judd Gregg. Even if a couple of them change their minds there’s enough support for passage.
The lack of support previously frustrated Republican graybeards, but they appear to be coming home. A cloture vote to end debate is expected today, with the ratification vote tomorrow.
On a pure productivity standpoint, this lame duck session has greatly exceeded expectations. I believe the Democrats who know these two months were basically it for the next two years decided to get to work.
