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Alexander, Corker vote against ending debate on Hagel nomination

Posted at 10:59 am February 15, 2013
By John Huotari 5 Comments

U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander

Lamar Alexander

U.S. Senator Bob Corker

Bob Corker

Senate Republicans on Thursday voted against ending debate on the nomination of Chuck Hagel to be the nation’s next defense secretary.

Hagel is a former Republican Senator and a Vietnam War veteran, but his nomination has been opposed by conservatives and pro-Israel forces. The Senate voted 58 to 40 to end debate, two votes short of the 60 that were needed.

Senators Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker, both Tennessee Republicans, voted against ending the debate.

“Chuck Hagel is a patriot, but by virtue of his views and his experience, he is not the right person to lead the world’s largest military organization in these dangerous times,” Alexander said in a Thursday press release, explaining his intention to vote against Hagel’s confirmation.

Alexander said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat, tried to end the debate too quickly.

“The majority leader’s motion to cut off debate only two days after an important nomination is reported to the Senate floor is premature, as several senators have asked the nominee questions that deserve more consideration,” Alexander said.

Corker said he generally believes a nominee to the president’s cabinet deserves an up-or-down vote in the Senate.

“But in this case, I believe a number of my colleagues have raised legitimate concerns about information that hasn’t yet been made public and that extending the debate gives more time for these concerns to be addressed,” Corker said. “Once sufficient time has passed, I am perfectly open to a 51-vote threshold.”

Alexander said he also believes cabinet nominees deserve an up-or-down vote.

“When the Senate returns on Feb. 26, there should have been sufficient time to consider Sen. Hagel’s record, so I will vote to end debate,” Alexander said.

The New York Times reported that it was the first time in history that the Senate has required that a nominee for secretary of defense clear the 60-vote hurdle before a final, simple majority vote.

Filed Under: Federal, Government, Top Stories Tagged With: Bob Corker, Chuck Hagel, confirmation, debate, defense secretary, Harry Reid, Lamar Alexander, nomination, president's cabinet, Senate Republicans, up-or-down vote

Comments

  1. Skip_G says

    February 15, 2013 at 11:19 am

    Moronic Republicans; what else would one expect.

    Reply
    • CK says

      February 16, 2013 at 11:15 am

      And those Democrats are 1 trillion dollars in the hole because they are so smart? Yea they are saving America from Americans once again. https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/562970_491017550955516_1527995589_n.jpg

      Reply
      • Skip_G says

        February 16, 2013 at 12:27 pm

        To which Democrats are you referring? Perhaps you speak of the House majority, which is Republican; you know, the folks responsible for authorizing expenditures.

        Reply
      • CK says

        February 16, 2013 at 2:33 pm

        Not anymore ,that was when we had a president that believed in the Constitution . Congress offered the budgets to OBLAMA and even his own party was part of the Congress that voted FOR A BUDGET. Get a clue !

        He can’t even get Dirty Harry (Horse’s Butt) Reid to do his job. 4 years and the party of destruction = NO BUDGET .

        Reply
  2. Woody Davis says

    February 15, 2013 at 11:36 am

    Angry white men…what did you expect? The information their cohorts are requesting has absolutely nothing to do with Hagel…I am really getting tired of this…

    Reply

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