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There will "likely" be a procedural vote on the Defense Authorization bill which includes a repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" this afternoon. But the likelihood of it getting the 60 votes needed proceed to debate is unlikely. (A Republican leadership aide said simply, "It won't happen.")
This morning on the Senate floor, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said, "I'm likely going to move to my motion to reconsider on the defense authorization act this evening." If the vote happens, the vote would follow a series of votes currently scheduled to begin at 4:00 pm ET.
You may remember that Senate Republicans told Reid in a letter last week that his members are collectively committed to blocking any bill from coming to the floor that was not either the bill extending the Bush era tax cuts or the bill that funds government operations.
"We write to inform you that we will not agree to [allow debate on] any legislative item until the Senate has acted to fund the government and we have prevented the tax increase that is currently awaiting all American taxpayers," the letter read, signed by all 42 Senate Republicans.
Following two days of hearings in the Senate Armed Services Committee last week, it appears that there may be enough bipartisan support to repeal the 17-year-old ban on gays and lesbians from serving opening in the military.
But until the Senate disposes of the Bush tax cut bill and government spending bill, it's highly unlikely the defense bill will make it on the floor. And once it gets to the floor, it still faces several hurdles. The biggest hurdle is whether will be enough time to finish the large and complex authorization bill, in addition to other Democratic priorities, before Congress adjourns for the holiday.
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...before adjourning for the Holidays? Congress, especially the Repubs, has been on an extended holiday for 2 years....except to issue sound bites!
How long does it take to vote NO!
I don't remember ever sayng this but - Thank God for the Senate. (Even if for a different reason)
Repeal of DADT is ASININE.
From NRO/Oliver North piece:
In a time of war, heck anytime with the Irans,N. Koreas, etc. of the world, we can't afford to risk our military on a politically correct, social engineering project based on a boggus, manipulated report that doesn't even address the key fundamental issues.
As North says:
One third of Marines and Soldiers in combat arms would consider getting out if this passes.
What in the past 17 years has happened to a GLBT/whatever that would warrant the risk of losing 250,000 troops (The guys that do the actual military stuff like fighting) in a time of war and growing aggression.
DADT repeal is ABSURD.
What's the big deal again? Shouldn't anyone who is willing to die for our country be allowed to serve regardless of what takes place in their personal life? Isn't that honorable enough? Aren't soldiers fighting for our FREEDOM?? I bet if a gay person took a bullet for a straight, the straights wouldn't really care if the person who saved their life was gay or not, right? Or is it safe to say that our military is filled with little immature boys who too concerned about their pee-pee's being eyeballed? Because that's what's important, right? Not being disciplined and focused on a mission, right? Being a soldier requires emotional and mental maturity. If our troops are too concerned about their own insecurities perhaps they aren't fit or mentally focused enough to deal with serving our country. Man up, don't let it affect you because it doesn't. Soldiers who are overly worried about serving alongside gays should be re-evaluated if that alone ruffles their feathers. Imagine their mental instability in combat if this is the case!