Senate sets up U.S.-Russian arms treaty for a final vote

The strategic nuclear arms treaty passed a key procedural hurdle Tuesday when the Senate voted to bring the weapons pact between the U.S. and Russia to the floor for a final vote.Quantcast

The Senate voted 67-28 to pass a closure motion, seemingly enough to assure final ratification. Eleven Republicans joined with 56 Democrats to pass the motion. It will take 67 votes to ratify the New START pact.

Throughout the day, GOP senators lined up to explain why they were ready to vote for the treaty, which had been opposed by some top Republicans, including Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and Jon Kyl of Arizona.

Republicans announcing their support were Richard G. Lugar of Indiana, George V. Voinovich of Ohio, Scott Brown of Massachusetts, Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins of Maine, Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker of Tennessee, Johnny

Isakson of Georgia, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Thad Cochran of Mississippi and Bob Bennett of Utah.

Arms-control agreements generally have bipartisan support, and this one was endorsed by past presidents from both parties and six former secretaries of state who worked for Republican presidents.

"I will vote to ratify the New START treaty between the United States and Russia because it leaves our country with enough nuclear warheads to blow any attacker to kingdom come and because the president has committed to an $85-billion, 10-year plan to make sure that those weapons work," Alexander said on the floor.The White House has added money for modernization, some of which will go to a nuclear facility in Tennessee.The treaty was signed by President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on April 8. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said a final vote was likely today.