He did, but that was just to be "fair", it doesn't actually work that way. Any member can postpone any final vote for one week.
Specter called for Janary 2nd hearings. Someone pointed out that at the end of those hearings, the dems could postpone for a week. So Specter agreed that he would start the hearings on January 9th, in return for an agreement with Leahy that the dems wouldn't use their right to postpone. Leahy can't take that right away from a member, members have individual rights, but it was expected that he had agreement.
Leahy now says they have to postpone simply because his members have plans for the weekend for MLK's Birthday. As if they didn't know that was coming.
the 17th.
Specter on C-SPAN now saying that he still sees no reason for a delay.