Lugar to Republicans: We need to take up the START treaty now

Lugar argued that the intransigence within the Republican caucus is a result of the leadership’s unwillingness to put current GOP senators in the crosshairs of the debate before the political terrain shifts in the Republicans’ favor when the new Congress is sworn in.

“If you’re a Republican, you anticipate that the lay of the land is going to be much more favorable in January and therefore would say, ‘If we do not have to make tough choices now, why make tough choices?'” Lugar explained.

Lugar wants the Democratic Senate leadership to cut off negotiations immediately and force a vote on New START now, to compel senators to get off the fence and to end the endless stalling coming from his own side of the aisle.