Wire: Raytheon Exec. Confirmed as Obama's Pentagon No. 2

News in Balance:

WASHINGTON, Feb 12, 2009 -- The Associate Press reported that the Senate voted 93 to 4 on Wednesday to confirm William J. Lynn III as deputy defense secretary, which will put a former military lobbyist in charge of day-to-day operations at the Pentagon.

In nominating Mr. Lynn, President Obama made an exception to an executive order he issued his first day in office, requiring a two-year interval before people could be hired for the agencies they had lobbied.

Mr. Lynn has promised that he will not get involved for one year with programs for which he lobbied for the Raytheon Company, a major military contractor.

Two other officials chosen by Obama were approved in committee votes Wednesday, sending their nominations to the full Senate.

The Senate Intelligence Committee, meeting in closed session, approved without opposition the nomination of Leon E. Panetta to head the Central Intelligence Agency, a committee spokesman, Philip LaVelle, said.

(Report from a commercial media source.)

Source: AP: Ex-Lobbyist Is Confirmed for Pentagon

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