Pentagon deputy expected to be confirmed

[unhappycamper]

Pentagon deputy expected to be confirmed
By Anne Flaherty - The Associated Press
Posted : Monday Feb 9, 2009 20:59:31 EST

WASHINGTON — The Senate was expected to confirm William Lynn as deputy defense secretary Tuesday, in a vote that would allow President Barack Obama to circumvent his own ethics rules by putting a former high-powered defense lobbyist in charge of day-to-day operations at the Pentagon.

Democratic leaders scheduled the vote after it became clear that Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, would not try to block the nomination.

Grassley previously accused Lynn of shoddy budget practices while working as Pentagon comptroller during the Clinton administration. Grassley also has raised concerns about Lynn’s lobbying ties.

Grassley’s spokeswoman, Beth Levine, said late Monday that the senator still has concerns about Lynn’s work at the Defense Department in the 1990s. She said he planned to outline those concerns during the debate Tuesday but was not expected to object to a vote.

The nomination was expected to be cleared by unanimous consent and without a roll call vote.


Rest of article at: http://armytimes.com/news/2009/02/ap_pentagon_deputy_020909/%2e



uhc comment: The wikipedia entry for Lynn --> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_J._Lynn_III


FWIW, I don't think a lobbyist should be in this position. Period.