GOP senator voices support for Clinton

Richard G. Lugar, the ranking Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations committee, said yesterday that he intended to vote in favor of Hillary Clinton as secretary of state, but he said questions remain over how she and her husband will deal with potential conflicts of interest while she serves as the nation's top diplomat.

"I would vote in favor of Senator Clinton," Lugar, of Indiana, said on ABC's "This Week." "I suspect, however, that I am not alone in suggesting that there will be questions raised, and there will probably be legitimate questions."

Clinton is expected to be officially nominated for the post today, months after President-elect Barack Obama defeated her in their primary battle. The announcement comes after lengthy negotiations with Bill Clinton over his own speaking engagements and work with his global foundation.

To clear the way for his wife to take the job, the former president agreed to allow the State Department and White House counsel to vet his speaking schedule and to disclose the name of every contributor to the Clinton Foundation since its inception in 1997.

He also agreed to step away from the day-to-day running of the foundation during his wife's tenure and to refuse donations from foreign governments to the Clinton Global Initiative, his annual charitable conference. He will also refrain from holding Global Initiative meetings abroad.

The former president had long refused to disclose the identities of contributors to his foundation, saying many gave money on condition that they not be identified. But after it became clear that his refusal would impede his wife's chances of becoming secretary of state, he agreed to the measures.

Yesterday, Senator Jack Reed, a Rhode Island Democrat who is a senior member of the Armed Services Committee, said the agreement Bill Clinton struck with the Obama transition team "sets up a framework of transparency and disclosure."

"I think that's a significant and important aspect of the confirmation process for Mrs. Clinton," Reed said on "This Week." "As it goes forward, I think, though, I think the presumption will be that both the Secretary of State Clinton and president, former president Clinton will be very judicious in what they take on, because there's a new dimension here. The secretary of state and the former president are married, and I think that's going to set the standard."

Both Reed and Lugar expressed support for the former president taking on a more formal foreign policy role, such as special US envoy on Kashmir, a disputed territory that has led to dangerous tension between India and Pakistan for decades. Obama has reportedly discussed the idea with the former president.

"I think he could do a great job there," Lugar said. "And for that matter, in lots of places. But, as I say, this is an unprecedented situation historically."

FARAH STOCKMAN

Even for a city practiced at handling huge protests, marches, and funerals, the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama will put an unusual strain on Washington's local resources.

Because Washington has been allotted only about $15 million in federal money to help pay for all major events in the city for the entire year, local officials say they are most concerned about the costs of handling the more than 1.5 million spectators expected to visit, the largest crowd in inaugural history.

The $15 million is roughly $2.3 million less than the city spent in 2005 for President Bush's second inauguration, which attracted 300,000 spectators.

"Our city has plenty of experience hosting the inauguration, and it cherishes being the seat of the federal government," said Eleanor Holmes Norton, Washington's congressional delegate. "But it doesn't come cheap." Norton said she was trying to get an additional $15 million allocated to the city.

The inauguration expense comes as the city announced $130 million in budget cuts last month to deal with a revenue shortfall.

Most of the inauguration is financed by private donations and federal money, but the city takes on a range of responsibilities. While the Secret Service will oversee security, including the sharpshooters and air patrols, most of the city's 4,100 police officers will help direct traffic, operate metal detectors, and escort dignitaries.

The city also will provide more than 1,200 first responders to handle medical emergencies and several hundred sanitation workers to clean up after the festivities.

NEW YORK TIMES