Politico: “Sen. Tommy Tuberville is rejecting off-ramps and advice from more senior Republicans to end his hold on military promotions, even as Pentagon officials step up their warnings that the maneuver is compromising America’s security.
The Alabama lawmaker’s colleagues have approached him in recent weeks to broker a compromise that would allow roughly 250 senior officer promotions to clear the Senate. The hold threatens to ensnare President Joe Biden’s pick for Joint Chiefs chair, Air Force Gen. C.Q. Brown, along with others preparing to rotate in as senior military leaders prepare to retire.
Tuberville first imposed the blocks in protest of the Defense Department’s new policy to pay travel costs for service members seeking abortion or other reproductive care. He claims that decision from late last year cuts against the Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe v. Wade, and vows to maintain the holds until Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin changes course or the senator gets a straightforward vote on the issue.
Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), first elected to the Senate in 2002 and formerly Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s No. 2, said he has spoken with Tuberville to “work with him to help him achieve his goal” when the Senate considers the annual defense policy bill. Cornyn indicated that he agreed with Tuberville’s stance on the Pentagon policy and was not pressuring him, insisting it was Tuberville’s choice on whether to drop his hold.”