Lott indicates confirmations likely this afternoon

From CNN Congressional Correspondent Chris Black

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Senate Republican leader Trent Lott says at least three and possibly six Bush cabinet nominees will get Senate approval Saturday afternoon.

On his way into a Mississippi reception called "Magnolias and Mimosas," sponsored by Lockheed-Martin, Lott, R-Mississippi, said Secretary of State-designee Colin Powell, Defense Secretary-designee Donald Rumsfeld and Treasury Secretary-designee Paul O'Neill will receive Senate confirmation for the their posts Saturday, shortly after George W. Bush is inaugurated as the nation's 43rd president.

In addition, Lott said he also wants the Senate to vote Saturday on three other Bush nominees: Ann Veneman as Agriculture Secretary; Don Evans to head the Department of Commerce and Spencer Abraham as Energy Secretary. Lott said it is not definite that the Senate will get to vote on the latter three.

Lott hopes the cabinet secretaries will be approved by voice vote. But he indicated that an unnamed Democratic senator is calling for roll call votes.

If that were to happen, Lott said the Senate would vote on the nominees in groups of three: state, defense and treasury in one group; agriculture, commerce and energy in another.

Freshman Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-New York, is not expected to vote on the confirmations. She will be spending the day with her husband, outgoing President Bill Clinton.