Corker, Alexander to Support START

The Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty with Russia, START, is on track for ratification with more Republicans on board, including Tennessee’s Senators Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker.

The treaty reduces the number of strategic nuclear warheads U.S. and Russia can have. It also steps up weapons inspections to make sure the warheads are functional.

Senator Alexander voted against moving forward on the arms control treaty last week. But in a nearly ten-minute floor speech Tuesday morning he explained why he reversed course.

“It leaves our country with enough warheads to blow any attacker to kingdom come, and because the President has committed to an $85-billion, ten-year plan to make sure those weapons work.”

The ten-year, $85-billion plan Alexander refers to is earmarked for updating nuclear weapons facilities, including the Y-12 plant in Oak Ridge.

Shortly after Alexander came out in support of START, Sen. Corker voiced his certainty that the treaty would pass with bipartisan support. Republicans have held up a vote on the treaty accusing Democrats of trying jam it through during a lame duck session.

Democrats are in the majority in the Senate, but ratification of the treaty requires two-thirds approval. With the three additional Republicans on board this morning, Democrats need only one more GOP vote.