Senate will ratify New START treaty

[Icarus27k]

Congress has a busy schedule ahead of them next in week. In addition to a probable repeal of the ban on gays serving openly in the military, the US Senate likely has the votes for the ratification of the New START treaty between the US and Russia. 67 votes are needed, and in addition to the 58 members of the Dem caucus, it looks like at Richard Lugar, Susan Collins, Olympia Snowe, Johnny Isakson, Bob Corker, Judd Gregg, Bob Bennett, John McCain and at least one more Repub will vote yes.


Source: START Treaty Has Votes for Senate Ratification, Lugar Aide Says - Bloomberg

 

[Icarus27k]

Really? No interest after hours posted?

The treaty is going to reduce the nuclear arsenals the US and Russia by a third.

 

[Highball]

I do hope the START Treaty does get passed in both Houses of Congress. Like it or not it does gives the US and other nuclear powers a place to begin negotiations on how to reign in the nations who possess nuclear capabilities but refuse to talk sensibly about any set of standards. North Korea is but one of several I can think of.

 

[Tonington]

With the new arsenals, how many times could the entire world be bombed?

 

[Icarus27k]

I do hope the START Treaty does get passed in both Houses of Congress. .

International treaties only have to pass the US Senate. But the catch is, it has to be 2/3s of the Senate (at least 67 votes).

 

[Icarus27k]

Debate on the START treaty should be happening about now, with a vote at approximately at 2pm EST (less than an hour). You can view it here...

Live Video - C-SPAN2 | C-SPAN

 

[Highball]

It passed in the US Senate with the required majority this afternoon.

 

[Icarus27k]

Yesterday's vote was a vote to invoke cloture (cut off debate). The final vote on ratification on New START is expected in the next few minutes.