Successful Tax Bill May Jump-Start START

Senate Democrats say “START me up.” A quick passage of the $858 billion tax package, which now appears likely, may enable the Senate to vote on approving the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty with Russia by Christmas, Democratic aides in the Senate tell The Hill.

The White House has made the nuclear arms treaty a huge priority. Senate Republicans refuse to consider any other bills until a tax package is approved along with a measure to fund the government. But the Senate’s resounding vote of approval Monday has given the tax bill strong momentum.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid probably will move START to the Senate floor by Thursday and put it on a parallel track with spending legislation, an aide tells The Hill.

“While Sen. Jon Kyl, the lead GOP negotiator with the administration on START, has said there isn’t enough time for the Senate to ratify the treaty in the lame-duck session, Republicans face some pressure to support the deal, which has the support of every living former secretary of State, as well as the military,” The Hill reports.