By Emelie Rutherford
The Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) will not consider confirming former Raytheon [RTN] lobbyist William Lynn to be deputy defense secretary until it learns how his nomination jibes with the Obama administration’s new lobbying rule.
Panel Chairman Carl Levin (D-Mich.) told reporters yesterday that the new ethics-related executive order Barack Obama signed Wednesday, his first full day as president, raises questions that must be addressed in relation to Lynn.
The order bans appointees entering government from participating for two years in matters on which they lobbied.
“It…broadens the current ethics and recusal provisions in a very significant way,” Levin said at the Capitol. “That is significantly broader language that would cover (Lynn), it seem, in a way which would make it difficult for him to operate in a whole bunch of areas, unless he gets a waiver.”
Levin said it appeared to him Lynn would need a waiver from the White House, though he was not certain.
The SASC, which held a confirmation hearing for Lynn last week, will wait to vote on Lynn’s confirmation until it hears if the White House does or does not seek a waiver, and the rationale behind its decision, Levin said.
“The bottom line is we should not, will not take up this nomination in committee…unless and until this is resolved,” Levin said. Aides last week suggested the confirmation of Lynn, a former Pentagon comptroller, would quickly clear the SASC.
Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs suggested in a statement Wednesday that the new administration will seek a waiver for Lynn, and the new spokesman repeated that sentiment during his first White House press conference yesterday afternoon.
Gibbs said yesterday Obama believes that “any (ethical) standard is not perfect, that a waiver process that allows people to serve their country is necessary,” adding: “In the case of Mr. Lynn, he’s somebody who obviously is superbly qualified, his experience going back to his Pentagon jobs during the Clinton administration make him uniquely qualified to do this. The president believes that…a very limited number of waivers” is permissible.
SASC member Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) said yesterday she will not seek to block Lynn’s confirmation and will support a waiver if the White House seeks one. Yet McCaskill, who has voiced reservations about Lynn’s past lobbying, pledged to keep a close eye on him. She submitted a letter for the record yesterday expressing her concerns. Still, she told reporters she wants to give him the benefit of the doubt, noting the Raytheon executive is giving up a lucrative job to serve the nation.