Notwithstanding the efforts of Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ) to derail the New START Treaty, by a vote of 71-26, the Senate approved on Wednesday the arms control treaty, making Mr. Obama the first Democratic President in history to have such a treaty ratified on his watch.
Thirteen Republicans, a quarter of the Republican caucus, defected and voted with Democrats, leaving McConnell and Kyl looking increasingly small towards the end of the START debate.
President Obama at a news conference on Wednesday afternoon, described the New START Treaty as the most significant arms control agreement in the past two decades that will make the U.S. safer and stronger. The Treaty ensures that nuclear stability is maintained between the U.S. and Russia, and lays the foundation for further cuts in the two countries’ nuclear arsenal. Once in force, the Treaty will also allow on-site inspections of Russia’s strategic nuclear weapons.
Obama singled out Vice President Joe Biden, Democrat John Kerry and Republican Richard Lugar for praise, in guiding the Treaty’s passage through the Congress.
