The Obama Family has arrived in Hawaii for their annual vacation, except the President, who is staying in the White House, calling US Senators to make sure he has 67 votes for the ratification of the New START Treaty that is being debated now.The President is expected to stay in Washington until the ratification vote which is expected late Wednesday or Thursday morning.

Iowa Senator Tom Harkin has indicated his support for the treaty. Senator Chuck Grassley has not indicated one way or the other, although he has been voting with the majority of the Republican caucus during the procedural and amendment votes.

Republicans Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Lindsay Graham(R-SC) and Jon Kyl (R-AZ) announced, in the last 24 hours, they do not support the treaty in its current form and plan to vote no on ratification. Interest groups who oppose the treaty are running full page advertisements in Maine and other states urging people to contact their senators. Blog for Iowa doesn't have the budget for that kind of advocacy, all we have is our readers. Please contact Senator Grassley today and ask him to vote for ratification of the New START Treaty.