Key Senate Republicans won't oppose Pentagon nominee

Bill Lynn, Raytheon's senior vice president for government operations and strategy, remains on track for confirmation as deputy Defense secretary after two senior Senate Armed Services Committee Republicans signaled Sunday they would not oppose him.

Lynn, who lobbied for the defense contractor, stirred some controversy after an executive order signed by President Obama last week barred any lobbyists entering the administration from handling issues or agencies they had lobbied in the last two years.

The administration issued a waiver for Lynn, and Senate Armed Services Chairman Carl Levin, D-Mich., responded by announcing he would support Lynn for confirmation.

On Sunday, Senate Armed Services ranking member John McCain, R-Ariz., said on Fox News, "I think it's a bit disingenuous to announce strict rules and then nominate someone with a waiver from the rules that you just announced to one of the most important jobs in Washington."

McCain said he wants to see which matters Lynn would be recused from handling, adding that "we need to probably move forward with this -- with his nomination." His ally and fellow Armed Services member, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., praised Lynn's background on CNN's "State of the Union" with John King.

"Mr. Lynn has a resume that shows he could serve in a very important role now, so it's just the reality of the policies versus governance," Graham said. The committee could vote on the nomination as early as this week.