Politics on the Hudson

Gov. David Paterson said Tuesday that a 24-hour delay in Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton’s nomination as secretary of state wouldn’t effect the timing of his announcement of a replacement that is expected by Saturday.

Republican Sen. John Cornyn’s objection to Clinton’s confirmation prevented a unanimous consent approval and set up a roll call vote on Wednesday at which her approval is expected.

Paterson described the Texas senator’s action as “grandstanding and self promotion’’ that was “very unnecessary.’

“I think I have an idea of what my selection would be,’’ he told reporters at an inaugural brunch held by the New York State Society at a downtown Washington hotel.

The governor said he came closer to making his choice late Monday, but wanted to wait until after his return to New York Wednesday before finalizing it.

Paterson said he expected to make an announcement by Saturday and will notify the also-rans at the same time he notifies his choice.

A statewide tour to introduce the appointee is a possibility, he indicated in response to a question.

Though former first daughter Caroline Kennedy is widely thought to be a leading contender for the appointment, Paterson dismissed the suggestion that efforts by New Yorkers Against Gun Violence to derail Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand’s chance of becoming his appointee because of her support of Second Amendment gun rights for the sportsmen and hunters in her largely rural district.

Gillibrand’s mother, Molly Rutnik of Albany, was a member of her college rifle team and usually shoots the family’s Thanksgiving turkey.

“I found that one issue that Congresswoman Gillibrand might have in which many might disagree, really is not fair to the spectacular work that she has done in the House of Representatives,’’ Paterson said, noting that she “has won a seat in an area dominated by the other party twice, the second time going away by 25 percent even when she was outspent by a candidate who raised $7 million.’

Gillibrand, who made an appearance at the same event shortly after Paterson departed, said her only gun vote in Congress was on a safety matter that disqualified the mentally ill from owning guns in the wake of the Virginia Tech massacre.

She described he mother as “the best shot in the family.’

The governor indicated he’s “very disinterested in the negatives’’ and wants to hear from people on the good reasons for selecting a candidate.

Paterson told reporters he would not let any single issue be the basis for his selection and is continuing to receive advice, fielding calls the previous night from Rep. Joe Crowley of Queens and former Rep. Mike McNulty of the state’s North Country

Paterson said he thinks Gillibrand is “great,’’ but didn’t specify whether she is among his short list of candidates to fill the seat after Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton resigns.

The Associated Press is reporting that Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton will not be confirmed as secretary of state today because of an objection filed by Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s spokesman Jim Manley said the objection prevent Clinton being confirmed by unanimous consent.

“But Manley also said there would be a roll call vote Wednesday,’’ the AP reported. “And he predicted that ‘she will receive overwhelming bipartisan support’ at that time.The Senate does plan to confirm several of President-elect Barack Obama’s Cabinet by unanimous vote later (today).’‘

A dozen or so senators—including former Republican presidential candidate John McCain—lined up this morning to offer congratulatory hugs, handshakes and kisses to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton after she delivered a 20-minute valedictory speech.

“I may not have always been a New Yorker, but I know I will always be one,’’ Clinton said as she reflected on her eight years as a senator, attending eight state fairs, 45 parades and representing 52 counties.

Clinton told her colleagues, “You have been wonderful teachers and mentors.’’ She particularly thanked them for the support they provided in the aftermath of the terrorist attack on Sept. 11, 2001.

But she urged her colleagues that they should not come together only during “times of disaster.’’

She nostalgically recalled learning about upstate agriculture and how she once delivered a speech with a photo of a New York cow as a prop.

The Senate will take up two pieces of Clinton sponsored legislation this afternoon.

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, who was confirmed this morning by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in a 16 to 1 vote, plans to deliver her farewell speech on the floor of the Senate around 11 a.m. today.

Her speech may not begin exactly at 11 a.m. because Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware, the vice president-elect, is currently on the floor delivering his lengthy farewell.

The full Senate is expected to confirm Clinton on Tuesday afternoon. Her nomination cannot be considered on the floor before then before Condoleezza Rice will remain in the position until the new administration takes office.

President-elect Barack Obama will be sworn in at noon Tuesday.

The lone committee vote against Clinton’s confirmation came from Republican Sen. David Vitter of Louisiana.

Members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee questioned Secretary of State-designate Hillary Rodham Clinton for more than five hours earlier today.

The next step is a committee vote, which is expected Thursday.

That will send her nomination to the floor.

The full Senate could confirm Clinton Tuesday, shortly after President-elect Barack Obama takes the oath of office.

Secretary of State-designate Hillary Rodham Clinton says the United States will begin withdrawing troops from villages and cities in Iraq “hopefully by June.’’

Clinton’s comment came in response to a question about how President-elect Barack Obama will carry out his campaign pledge with withdraw all combat troops from Iraq within 16 months.

According to Clinton, the withdrawals will be made within the context of the agreement already reached by the Bush administration and the Iraqi government.

In regard to Afghanistan, Clinton said Obama’s “more for more strategy’’ which calls on more NATO participation in conjunction with the expected increase in U.S. forces there.

Secretary of State-designate Hillary Rodham Clinton faces questions this morning from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on President-elect Barack Obama’s approach to a wide range of international crisis ranging from the violence in Gaza, to the proposed withdrawal of combat troops from Iraq and plans to increase forces in Afghanistan.

In her opening statement at her confirmation hearing, the junior senator from New York is expected to present the Obama administration’s vision for repairing the standing and image of the United States in the international community.

The hearing, which is scheduled to start at 9:30,  can be watched in its entirety on the Web at

http://foreign.senate.gov/hearings/2009/hrg090113a.html

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton will introduce legislation to overturn a Supreme Court ruling that set a limitation on women to file wage discrimination lawsuits.

The Senate could vote on the bill—Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act—as early as next week, giving Clinton one final legislative achievement before she is confirmed as secretary of State.

Clinton’s confirmation hearing is Tuesday, but a vote by the full Senate cannot occur until after the noontime Jan. 20 swearing in of President-elect Barack Obama.

House Democrats announced in a conference call with reporters this morning they plan to pass the bill this week as their first piece of legislation in 2009.

Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., said Clinton could introduce the Senate version of the bill as early as today.

Rep. George Miller, the California Democrat who chairs the House Education and Labor Committee, said “it’s quite conceivable’’ the bill could become the first piece of legislation signed into law by Obama.

Democrats justified not holding hearings on the bill before bringing it to the floor because the same bill was passed by the House in the last Congress.