Senate delays confirmation of Pentagon deputy

[unhappycamper]

Senate delays confirmation of Pentagon deputy
By Anne Flaherty - The Associated Press
Posted : Wednesday Feb 11, 2009 4:02:44 EST

WASHINGTON — The Senate has postponed until at least Wednesday a vote on William Lynn’s Pentagon appointment because of questions raised by an unidentified Republican senator, the latest delay for President Barack Obama’s plan to name a former lobbyist as deputy defense secretary.

It was unclear whether the objection was tied to Lynn’s lobbying work at Raytheon, which violated Obama’s own ethics rules and raised the eyebrows of Republican Sens. John McCain and Charles Grassley.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said he expected a deal could be reached soon and the Senate would vote Wednesday.

The Senate had been poised to vote this week, following an endorsement by the Senate Armed Services Committee and an announcement Monday by Grassley, R-Iowa, that he would not to block the appointment. McCain, R-Ariz., also had said he would not object to a vote.

Jim Manley, a spokesman for Reid, D-Nev., said Democrats still hoped to confirm Lynn by unanimous consent. He declined to say which senator had raised additional questions about Lynn’s appointment or what the questions were.


Rest of article at: http://armytimes.com/news/2009/02/ap_lynn_confirmation_021009/%2e