Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid plans to bring to the Senate floor next week the 2011 defense authorization bill that includes a repeal of the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy, aides said today.
Reid informed Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of his decision during a meeting this afternoon.
Earlier this year Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., objected to bringing up the bill because of the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell repeal and a provision permitting abortions to take place at military hospitals provided federal funds are not used.
The House voted earlier this year to repeal the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy.
Reid’s decision to bring up the defense bill means that it will likely be the one major piece of legislation that the Senate tackles before the November mid-term elections. Later this week Reid and Democrats hope to finish work on a small business bill that has been stalled since earlier this summer.
Everyone seems to be twiddling their thumbs here and such but I would suggest that you call your Senators and give them an earful to repeal this ban. The pressure is not just on Obama or the Democrats but on us also. I hear a lot of folks ready to give Obama hell, and it is deserved to a point. But what isn't needed is the mouths of those willing to spin a cute phrase when they get disappointed but not willing to put in the work which needs to be done.
This is our victory to be won through hard work. It won't be given to us on a silver platter.
From the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network:
Call and urge your senators to make passage of repeal legislation a top priority the week of September 20th. And ask them to urge their Joint Leadership (Senators Reid and McConnell) to schedule this vote.
(202) 224-3121
A full Senate floor vote is one of the last major legislative hurdles that stands in the way of repeal. Unfortunately, Senator John McCain has been a vocal opponent of repeal from the start. He has indicated that he, along with other repeal foes, will pull out all the stops in coming weeks - from attempting to strike repeal language from the NDAA to offering weakening amendments or threatening to filibuster the entire defense budget.
We cannot let that happen.
If the defense budget bill doesn't move to the Senate floor by the end of this month, DADT repeal may not happen for several more years.
Call these key senators now. We need a repeal vote the week of September 20th.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV)
(202) 224-3542
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY)
(202) 224-2541
Senator John McCain (R-AZ)
(202) 224-2235
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