In news from Capitol Hill, the Senate appears set to approve a strategic nuclear arms pact with Russia after 11 Republicans joined Democrats on Tuesday in support of a key preliminary measure. A final vote on the New START treaty is expected today. Republican Senator Lamar Alexander of Tennessee explained his support of the treaty.

Sen. Lamar Alexander: “I will vote to ratify the New START treaty between the United States and Russia, because it leaves our country with enough nuclear warheads to blow any attacker to Kingdom Come and because the President has committed to an $85 billion ten-year plan to make sure that those weapons work.”

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina urged the vote on the START treaty to be delayed until the next Senate.

Sen. Lindsey Graham: “It’s not about aborting START. It’s about getting the best deal possible. And I just don’t understand why we can’t wait five more weeks, because five weeks from now, there will be a better treaty for America negotiated than the one we’re about to pass.”