Stop START: Whip List

A very interesting post from www.redstate.com about the START Treaty. This follows this post about North Korea and Iran and this article  about the recent news about the former ban on offshore drilling which would encourage American energy independence. This is a key issue to prevent money from going to hostile countries such as Iran and Venezuela. For more that you can do to get involved click HERE

Stop START: Whip List


Posted by Russ Vought (Profile)




Friday, December 3rd at 1:36PM EST



Throughout the last year, it has been very difficult to nail down how many Senators are opposed to ratification of New START. Too many Senate Republicans have kept their powder dry as they deferred to Senator Jon Kyl to negotiate on their behalf. This has been a fundamental mistake, because it has precluded the opponents of the treaty from winning the public debate based on its flaws.



Thankfully, we now have some semblance of a whip list to work off over the next week or so. Senators John Ensign, Kit Bond, and Jim DeMint have circulated a letter with 22 signatures (including their own) that basically amounts to a public hold letter, objecting to any unanimous consent agreement in the Senate to expedite ratification. The letter can be found here.


There are 42 Republican Senators in the lame duck. New START needs 67 votes to be ratified. If all 58 Democrat votes stick together, the Obama Administration needs 9 Republican votes. Below the fold is the universe of Senate Republicans who have not signed the Ensign-Bond-DeMint hold letter and need to be nailed down between now and next week. Here is the main number for the Senate switchboard: 202-224-3121. Call away!

Lamar Alexander (TN), Republican Conference Chairman

Robert Bennett (UT)

Scott Brown (MA)

Saxby Chambliss (GA)

Thad Cochran (MS)

Susan Collins (ME)

Bob Corker (TN), voted for the treaty out of committee

Lindsey Graham (SC)

Judd Gregg (NH)

Kay Bailey Hutchison (TX)

Johnny Isakson (GA), voted for the treaty out of committee

Mark Kirk (IL)

Jon Kyl (AZ), Republican Whip

George LeMieux (FL)

Richard Lugar (IN), voted for treaty out of committee and a main proponent

John McCain (AZ)

Mitch McConnell (KY), Republican Leader

Lisa Murkowski (AK)

Olympia Snowe (ME)

George Voinovich (OH)



It is also worth calling some of the Democrats. Ben Nelson (NE) supports ratification, but has said that START can wait until next year. Kent Conrad (ND), Joe Manchin (WV), Claire McCaskill (MO), and Jon Tester (MT), must all face the voters within two years and should hear from their constituents.



Crossposted at Heritage Action for America