Senate confirms Hagel for defense secretary

By Associated Press DONNA CASSATA (AP)

Created: Wednesday, February 27, 2013 1:15 a.m. CDT

WASHINGTON (AP) – A deeply divided Senate voted on Tuesday to confirm Republican Chuck Hagel to be the nation’s next defense secretary, handing President Barack Obama’s pick the top Pentagon job just days before billions of dollars in automatic, across-the-board budget cuts hit the military.

The vote was 58-41, with four Republicans joining the Democrats in backing the contentious choice. Hagel’s only GOP support came from former colleagues Thad Cochran of Mississippi and Dick Shelby of Alabama as well as Mike Johanns of Nebraska and Rand Paul of Kentucky.

The vote came just hours after Republicans dropped their delay of the nomination and allowed it to move forward on a 71-27 vote.

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Sauk Valley Bank opens new branch

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Senate confirms Hagel for defense secretary

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Sauk Valley Bank opens new branch

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