Bill Lynn Will Get His Vote This Afternoon

Word coming from the Hill: Bill Lynn, the former top Raytheon lobbyist tapped to become deputy secretary of defense, will finally get his floor vote in the Senate at 5 p.m. following three hours of scheduled debate. Reuters reported earlier today that Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa.) is going to make a lengthy statement but not hold up the nomination on ethics grounds, as he had flirted with doing.

Barring something unforseen and dramatic, it looks like Defense Secretary Bob Gates has his deputy. If so, get ready for a tough budget battle over cutting certain defense programs — several of which Raytheon has contracts for; the DDG-1000 Naval Destroyer, I’m looking at you — that may require Lynn’s recusal.