US expected to ratify nuclear arms treaty before Christmas
Jane Cowan reported this story on Wednesday, December 22, 2010 08:12:00
TONY EASTLEY: Political opponents are calling it a huge mistake but the Obama administration is pleased that it's about to sign off on a major nuclear arms reduction treaty with Russia.
After a difficult year and a battering at the midterm elections last month Democrats are celebrating a surprisingly successful final session of congress.
North America correspondent Jane Cowan reports.
JANE COWAN: It's the final piece of business the Obama administration wants to get done before Christmas and now it looks as though Democrats do have enough votes to ratify the new START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) treaty.
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs:
ROBERT GIBBS: Senators have gotten the information that they've needed. And I think it's - we're pretty confident that more than two-thirds of them will vote to ratify something that's tremendously important for our national security.
JANE COWAN: But that hasn't stopped Republicans launching a last ditch effort to rally opposition.
Republicans complain the treaty in its current form gives the Russians scope to possibly limit America's ability to protect itself with a missile defence shield.
They also say consideration of the treaty is being rushed in the dying days of a congress that contains senators who were defeated at last month's midterm elections.
Republican Senator Orrin Hatch:
ORRIN HATCH: For the first time in history a major nuclear arms treaty is being jammed through during a lame duck session of congress. And that's after an election that has sent messages all over this country and all over the world with a lot of new changes that are going to happen right after the first of the year.
This isn't just any treaty but one that has national implications for our country and international implications, national security implications for our country and for our people.
JANE COWAN: The Tea Party aligned senator Jim DeMint is painting Democrats as pushy and sly.
JIM DEMINT: They're trying to cram something else down the throats of the American people under the cover of Christmas.
JANE COWAN: Despite the protestations the White House is confident it has the nine Republican votes needed to ratify the treaty and a final vote is expected tomorrow.
It will be a big win for president Barack Obama who's achieved so much more than expected in this lame duck session already that he's being called the "comeback kid".
With an $850 billion compromise deal on tax cuts and a repeal of the ban on gay people serving openly in the military already ticked off in the last few days he's ending the year on a high note.
One opinion poll reveals more support for the president's policies than at any time since the middle of last year.
This is Jane Cowan in Washington reporting for AM.
After a difficult year and a battering at the midterm elections last month Democrats are celebrating a surprisingly successful final session of congress.
North America correspondent Jane Cowan reports.
JANE COWAN: It's the final piece of business the Obama administration wants to get done before Christmas and now it looks as though Democrats do have enough votes to ratify the new START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) treaty.
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs:
ROBERT GIBBS: Senators have gotten the information that they've needed. And I think it's - we're pretty confident that more than two-thirds of them will vote to ratify something that's tremendously important for our national security.
JANE COWAN: But that hasn't stopped Republicans launching a last ditch effort to rally opposition.
Republicans complain the treaty in its current form gives the Russians scope to possibly limit America's ability to protect itself with a missile defence shield.
They also say consideration of the treaty is being rushed in the dying days of a congress that contains senators who were defeated at last month's midterm elections.
Republican Senator Orrin Hatch:
ORRIN HATCH: For the first time in history a major nuclear arms treaty is being jammed through during a lame duck session of congress. And that's after an election that has sent messages all over this country and all over the world with a lot of new changes that are going to happen right after the first of the year.
This isn't just any treaty but one that has national implications for our country and international implications, national security implications for our country and for our people.
JANE COWAN: The Tea Party aligned senator Jim DeMint is painting Democrats as pushy and sly.
JIM DEMINT: They're trying to cram something else down the throats of the American people under the cover of Christmas.
JANE COWAN: Despite the protestations the White House is confident it has the nine Republican votes needed to ratify the treaty and a final vote is expected tomorrow.
It will be a big win for president Barack Obama who's achieved so much more than expected in this lame duck session already that he's being called the "comeback kid".
With an $850 billion compromise deal on tax cuts and a repeal of the ban on gay people serving openly in the military already ticked off in the last few days he's ending the year on a high note.
One opinion poll reveals more support for the president's policies than at any time since the middle of last year.
This is Jane Cowan in Washington reporting for AM.
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