N-bill at Senate: First killer amendment defeated

The first of the killer amendments to the enabling legislation to facilitate the US-India civilian nuclear agreement introduced by Senator Jeff Bingaman, New Mexico Democrat, was soundly defeated by a vote of 73-26.

Bingaman's amendment called for the denial of nuclear fuel to India by the US as the nuclear deal provides for unless India commits to halt the development of fissile material.

Senators Richard Lugar and Joe Biden, co-authors of S 3709 the enabling legislation, led the charge against Boingaman's amendment and evidently convinced the majority of their fellow colleagues to soundly reject it.

But there were a few stunning surprises where some of India and the Indian American comnmunity's longtime friends like Senators Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts, Robert Menedez and Frank Lautenburg of New Jersey, all Democrats voted for Bingaman's amendment as did the likes of Senators Barack Obama of Illinois, Diane Feinstein of California, Tom Harkin of Iowa and Barbara Milkulski of Maryland.