CQ TODAY ONLINE NEWS
Aug. 9, 2009 – 11:21 p.m.
New York Candidates Wait And So Does Nominee
By Matthew M. Johnson, CQ Staff
Concerned that their state could become the home for some Guantánamo Bay detainees, Kansas’ two Republican senators have placed a hold on the nomination of Rep. John M. McHugh as Army secretary. That means a litte more time as candidates in waiting for the people gearing up to run for McHugh’s seat in an upstate New York district.
Sens. Pat Roberts and Sam Brownback are seeking answers from the Obama administration about the possible moves of some detainees to the prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
The senators have asked the White House for a briefing by Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates , Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. or other senior officials.
The Senate Armed Services Committee approved McHugh’s nomination by voice vote Aug. 4.
McHugh, a former ranking Republican on the House Armed Services Committee, was not considered a controversial candidate. However, John McCain , ranking Republican on the Senate committee, said he was troubled by McHugh’s acceptance of more than $160,000 in campaign contributions from The PMA Group. Once a top defense lobbying firm, the now-defunct PMA is under investigation for alleged campaign finance violations.
McHugh’s selection may have political implications. Unlike many other Republicans from Northeastern states, McHugh easily survived his last two elections, but Democrats have had success at the local level in his district, which has sent Republicans to the House since 1872.
On Aug. 10, Democratic county chairmen will interview their slate of prospective candidates and select their 23rd District special election nominee.
Republicans already have chosen Assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava as their candidate to succeed McHugh.
Comments
Who is putting the country at risk? Could it be the senators from KS who are holding up confirmation of the *Secretary of the Army*?
Since when have the local Democrats made gains? Essex is Republican, so is Clinton County
Looks like Republicans are putting their political goals ahead of the good of the country while we are involved in TWO wars. I believe just a few years ago, the right-wing actively called that "treason". Mr. Roberts and Mr. Brownback, why do you hate America?
I completley agree with Sen. Roberts and Brownback. Except couldnt they have picked other nominee's to hold up? Thier are about 40 other nominees to pick from. Rep. McHugh is a person the Army sorely needs. Good line of thinking, wrong choice.
The reason their holding up McHugh is that the Dems wouldn't care if the KS senators held up someone else. But this hurts, because the Bolsheviks want a shot at NY23, or at the very least, make the GOP spend a ton of money there. As far as "putting the Nation at risk" (LOL), the Pentagon is overflowing with bureaucrats ready to pick up the slack.
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