BREAKING: Senate Moves to Closed Session on New START

Guy Benson | December 20, 2010 1:36 PM

For the second time in this lame duck session of Congress, the US Senate will deliberate behind closed doors. The upper chamber is now in recess as members prepare for a secret session, typically reserved for extraordinarily sensitive matters. According to a Senate source, the closed session on START will commence at 2pm. The Senate will resume its open session after all classified materials are debated.

Some Republicans remain opposed to language in the treaty's preamble, which Russian officials have said they believe limits future development of US missile defense programs. Congressional Democrats and the White House say the preamble language is not legally binding. The Senate on Saturday defeated an amendment offered by Sen. John McCain to strike the controversial -- and allegedly non-binding -- language from the preamble.

The White House says it expects the treaty to be ratified before the current Congress adjourns. Democrats need the support of ten Republicans to reach the Constitutionally-required 2/3 threshold for passage of international treaties. That task became one vote more difficult when Oregon Senator Ron Wyden left the session to pursue cancer treatments.