Blunt: GOP may delay Hagel vote

Sen. Roy Blunt signaled Wednesday that there may be enough votes in the Senate to delay debate on the nomination of Chuck Hagel to lead the Pentagon.

Blunt (R-Mo.) said he believed there were 40 votes in the Senate that indicated ?it?s too quick to end the debate on this nomination.?

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Smith: Hagel's hearing performance hurt

The GOP, which controls 45 votes in the Senate, would need 41 votes to block former Sen. Hagel from hitting the 60-vote threshold that some Republicans have threatened.

?I don?t think we?ll move forward for a few days on that,? Blunt said at POLITICO?s post-State of the Union event. ?And there?s been requests for more information. I think ultimately Senator Hagel will provide that information.?

In particular, Republicans on the Armed Services Committee have asked for more detailed financial disclosures from Hagel ? a demand dismissed by Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.), the committee?s chairman.

?We?re not going to accept a change in the rules that applies to one nominee,? Levin said earlier this week as he defended Hagel. ?We are not going to accept your suggestion and innuendo that there?s some sort of conflict of interest.?

The nomination of Hagel, who has drawn extensive criticism from Senate Republicans, cleared the Armed Services Committee on a party-line vote on Tuesday. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said earlier this week that the chamber would move on the Hagel nomination later Wednesday or Thursday.

Even Hagel?s supporters suggested that the former Nebraska senator has major hurdles ahead if he is confirmed as Defense secretary. Washington Rep. Adam Smith, the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, said at POLITICO?s event that Hagel has a ?significant challenge? ahead to build his credibility both at the Pentagon and on Capitol Hill, particularly following Hagel?s rocky confirmation hearing last month.

?It hurt,? Smith said of Hagel?s performance. ?I can?t lie about that. it was not generally a very good performance. I don?t think it?s totally reflective of the man; [he] obviously, has a very distinguished career both in the military and the government.?

Source: http://feeds.politico.com/click.phdo?i=177427eb2ec7d51553e99227c0c1bd24

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