Hagel Vote

The Senate Armed Services Committee will likely vote next Thursday on whether to back the nomination of former Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE) as defense secretary, Chairman Carl Levin (D-MI) told reporters today following Hagel's confirmation hearing.

Levin declined to predict when the full Senate might vote on the nomination, and said he had heard "third hand" that two GOP senators support Hagel's nomination: Lisa Murkowski (AK) and Thad Cochran (MS).

Levin said he thought Hagel performed well during today's hearing.

Levin also said Congress could still take action to avoid the looming budget cuts known as sequestration. It remains unclear when Congress will receive the Pentagon's fiscal year 2014 budget request, he said.