Clinton in hot seat, faces colleagues today

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Sen. Hillary Clinton is expected to testify today before the Senate panel that will consider her nomination to be Secretary of State.

Republicans aren't expected to offer much resistance. They say Clinton's worked well with them during her eight years in the Senate.

Lawmakers are still looking for more details on a deal between her and President-elect Barack Obama, aimed at making sure that her husband's charitable work won't pose a conflict of interest.

A plan that was made public last year allows ethics officials at the State Department to look at overseas contributions made to Bill Clinton's charity. The State Department will also be able to assess ahead of time the former president's consulting work and his speaking engagements.

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry says he and other senators want to know whether any overseas contributions might be excluded from the oversight requirement. He also says they want to know just how the process will work.

But he says he doesn't see a "stumbling block" that would keep Clinton from being confirmed.

In all, there are five confirmation hearings scheduled today for prospective Cabinet members in the new administration.