Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
New York Times
February 12, 2009
Pg. 26
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate voted 93 to 4 on Wednesday to confirm William J. Lynn III as deputy defense secretary, which will put a former military lobbyist in charge of day-to-day operations at the Pentagon.
In nominating Mr. Lynn, President Obama made an exception to an executive order he issued his first day in office, requiring a two-year interval before people could be hired for the agencies they had lobbied.
Mr. Lynn has promised that he will not get involved for one year with programs for which he lobbied for the Raytheon Company, a major military contractor.
Two other officials chosen by Mr. Obama were approved in committee votes Wednesday, sending their nominations to the full Senate.
The Senate Intelligence Committee, meeting in closed session, approved without opposition the nomination of Leon E. Panetta to head the Central Intelligence Agency, a committee spokesman, Philip LaVelle, said.
Mr. Panetta, a former congressman who was chief of staff for President Bill Clinton, has no direct intelligence-gathering or analysis experience. Mr. Obama said he was selected because of his managerial skills and ability to repair the agency’s relationship with Congress.
Representative Hilda L. Solis edged closer to winning confirmation as the next labor secretary, after more than a month of delays over questions about her husband’s unpaid taxes and her work for a pro-union group.
The Senate labor committee cleared her nomination in a voice vote with only two Republicans voting against her.
February 12, 2009
Pg. 26
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate voted 93 to 4 on Wednesday to confirm William J. Lynn III as deputy defense secretary, which will put a former military lobbyist in charge of day-to-day operations at the Pentagon.
In nominating Mr. Lynn, President Obama made an exception to an executive order he issued his first day in office, requiring a two-year interval before people could be hired for the agencies they had lobbied.
Mr. Lynn has promised that he will not get involved for one year with programs for which he lobbied for the Raytheon Company, a major military contractor.
Two other officials chosen by Mr. Obama were approved in committee votes Wednesday, sending their nominations to the full Senate.
The Senate Intelligence Committee, meeting in closed session, approved without opposition the nomination of Leon E. Panetta to head the Central Intelligence Agency, a committee spokesman, Philip LaVelle, said.
Mr. Panetta, a former congressman who was chief of staff for President Bill Clinton, has no direct intelligence-gathering or analysis experience. Mr. Obama said he was selected because of his managerial skills and ability to repair the agency’s relationship with Congress.
Representative Hilda L. Solis edged closer to winning confirmation as the next labor secretary, after more than a month of delays over questions about her husband’s unpaid taxes and her work for a pro-union group.
The Senate labor committee cleared her nomination in a voice vote with only two Republicans voting against her.