Washington — Sen. Jim DeMint (R., S.C.) tells NRO that he is worried that the New START treaty could be brought up this week via a “dual track” maneuver — tying its debate to the continuing resolution to fund the government.
“Sounds like they want to dual-track this with the terrible omnibus bill,” DeMint says. “I’m really concerned . . . . I’m not going to be sleeping very well this week.”
“Senator Reid can bring up both of them if he wants. It’s just a matter of whether we’re going to cooperate if the process is so bad.”
“It’s a privileged motion that he can bring up,” DeMint says. “He can easily get 60 votes. The question is whether he can get 67.”
Still, on background, a GOP senator tells us that this is unlikely. He predicts that the tax deal will pass, then the CR will be considered, and then START will be introduced. But he says debate on the treaty will probably come early next year. “I haven’t heard about this dual tracking,” he says. “It’s not featuring in discussions. I doubt it happens in order to push this through now.”