v:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}

Normal
0
false

false
false
false

EN-US
X-NONE
X-NONE

/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:”Table Normal”;
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:””;
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:”Calibri”,”sans-serif”;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:”Times New Roman”;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}

Iowans are Watching the START Treaty

by Paul Deaton

“During
the past year, I traveled across the state of Iowa, talking with people about
nuclear disarmament. In dozens of meetings, there has been overwhelming,
bipartisan support among Iowans for reduction of the number of nuclear weapons
that exist in the world.”

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee scheduled a vote on the New START Treaty
between the United States and Russia for Wednesday, August 4 at 9:00 AM EDT. It
takes a simple majority to vote the treaty out of committee and the hope is
that Republicans, besides Ranking Member Richard Lugar (R-IN) who has announced
his support, will join with Democrats to send the treaty to the full senate.

A lot is riding on the New START Treaty. The committee vote will be a
bellwether for how the treaty will fare in getting the 67 votes needed for
ratification. If Lugar’s is the only Republican vote, the treaty will go to the
full senate, but may fall short of the votes needed. Treaties are not exempt from
a Senate filibuster. In the 111th Congress it has become an unwritten rule that
the 60 votes required to break a filibuster are required for any legislation to
be considered by the senate. It continues to be an open question whether the
treaty will be ratified and most moderate Republican Senators remain silent on
the merits of the treaty and on how they will vote. Some, including Senator Bob
Bennett (R-UT), are waiting for minority whip Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ) to give
the signal that it is okay to speak out on the treaty. Bennett is expected to
vote for ratification.

According to the Cable, Senator Lamar
Alexander (R-TN) said, “Hopefully we can create an environment, after general
study, that would permit the Senate to ratify the treaty in a bipartisan way,
but we're not there yet.” Alexander went on to say, “It will depend primarily
on whether we can have an adequate nuclear modernization program going forward.
I'm working very closely with Senator Kyl to make that happen.” And so Senate
horse trading continues, although Senator Kyl denies he is negotiating terms
and conditions with the White House.

During the past year, I traveled across the state of Iowa, talking with people
about nuclear disarmament. In dozens of meetings, there has been overwhelming,
bipartisan support among Iowans for reduction of the number of nuclear weapons
that exist in the world. Russia and the United States own the largest number of
nuclear weapons, and New START is a modest next step towards reduction. If New
START is not ratified, then much of the administration’s national security
agenda could be in jeopardy. Most Iowans favor ratification of New START.

So what can we do? Senator Bob Corker (R-TN) and Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA)
are considered to be potential yes votes in the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee. An e-mail, fax or phone call in support of New START from a
constituent would be meaningful. If the reader has friends and relatives in
Tennessee and Georgia, it is worth the time to contact them about writing or
phoning their senators today.

In Iowa, Senator Harkin has indicated his support for New START and is expected
to vote in favor of ratification if and when the treaty is considered by the
full senate. Senator Grassley has joined the ranks of the Republican Senate
caucus and his public position is that he is undecided about the treaty. Like
Senator Alexander and others, he seems to be looking to Senator Kyl for
leadership on New START.

What Iowans should also do is let Senator Grassley know of our support for the
New START Treaty, and that a vote for ratification would reflect the values of
Iowans on this milestone along the road to nuclear disarmament.

~Paul Deaton is a native Iowan living in rural Johnson County and weekend
editor of Blog for Iowa. E-mail Paul Deaton

Following
is Contact information for the Tennessee and Georgia Senators on the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee:

Corker:

http://corker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=ContactMe

Dirksen Senate Office Building

SD-185

Washington, DC 20510

(202) 224-3344

Isakson:

http://isakson.senate.gov/contact.cfm

120 Russell Senate Office Building

Washington, DC 20510

(202) 224-3643

Following
is Senator Grassley's Contact Information:

Grassley:

http://grassley.senate.gov/contact.cfm
135 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224 – 3744