Senate opens confirmation hearing on John Kerry as secretary of state
Source: Washington Post
Sen. John F. Kerry, testifying before a Senate committee on his nomination to become secretary of state, said U.S. foreign policy is defined by much more than military intervention abroad and the fight against terrorism, and he called for consensus on promoting American leadership on matters ranging from food security to climate change.
Appearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which opened a confirmation hearing on President Obamas nomination of Kerry to succeed Hillary Rodham Clinton as Americas top diplomat, the senator from Massachusetts also voiced resolve to prevent Iran from pursuing a suspected goal of obtaining a nuclear weapon.
And he stressed that more than ever, foreign policy is economic policy.
Answering questions later in the hearing, Kerry pursued that theme, saying it is in Americas interests to continue foreign aid programs despite pressure to reduce spending. We cannot we cannot reduce the funding for some of these initiatives that we are engaged in without great cost to our ability to be able to help American business, help create jobs and help strengthen our security in the world, he said.
Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/senate-opens-confirmation-hearing-on-john-kerry-as-secretary-of-state/2013/01/24/b9e0188c-6635-11e2-9e1b-07db1d2ccd5b_singlePage.html
TwilightGardener
(46,416 posts)various pet foreign policy initiatives, sprinkled with senatorial fawning.
amuse bouche
(3,657 posts)from yesterday.
hughee99
(16,113 posts)karynnj
(59,503 posts)hughee99
(16,113 posts)but I was wondering if there was some Senate rule that already determined that he couldn't vote. Recusing yourself is voluntary, and I was curious if some asshole (probably repuke) in the past refused to do so in the face of a close vote and they had to make a special rule for this.
bitly21
(11 posts)Senate opens confirmation hearing on John Kerry as secretary of state