McHugh confirmation delayed until September

WASHINGTON — Rep. John M. McHugh will have to wait until September to be confirmed as Army secretary.

When the Senate confirmed a few dozen of President Barack Obama's nominees Friday before adjourning for August, the congressman's name was not among them. Mr. McHugh and several other nominees appear to be caught in a dust-up with two senators from Kansas who oppose closing the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay and sending terrorism-related detainees to a high-security prison in that state.

The Republican lawmakers, Sens. Sam Brownback and Pat Roberts, registered their displeasure by objecting to confirming some nominees by unanimous consent. Most Capitol Hill observers had assumed Mr. McHugh, R-Pierrepont Manor, would breeze through confirmation along with many others under the unanimous consent order, which allows them to pass without roll call votes.

Two other nominees who shared Mr. McHugh's confirmation hearing, including one to be an Army under secretary, also were put off on Friday. The Senate returns to session on Sept. 7.

The delay dashes any hope for a quick announcement of a special election to fill Mr. McHugh's seat. Gov. David A. Paterson has said he will not announce a special election until Mr. McHugh is confirmed and resigns his congressional seat.