Senate Panel Advances Goss’ Nomination as CIA Director
WASHINGTON — A Senate panel on Tuesday approved the nomination of Rep. Porter J. Goss (R-Fla.) to head the CIA, over Democrats’ objections that Goss was too political for the job.
In a closed meeting, the Senate Intelligence Committee voted 12 to 4, with three Democrats, including Dianne Feinstein of California, joining the committee’s nine Republicans in approving the nomination and Democratic vice presidential nominee John Edwards making no recommendation.
The full Republican-led Senate scheduled a vote on Goss’ nomination for today.
Sen. John D. “Jay” Rockefeller IV (D-W.Va.), ranking Democrat on the committee, voted against Goss -- President Bush’s nominee -- saying that as head of the House Intelligence Committee, Goss “repeatedly used intelligence issues for partisan purposes.”
“While I appreciate his testimony and commitment to nonpartisanship if confirmed, I must vote on his record, not his promises,” Rockefeller said. “I sincerely hope that Porter Goss proves my vote wrong and becomes an independent and exceptional” CIA director.
Goss would be only the second CIA director who served in Congress, after former President and Rep. George H.W. Bush.
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