Senator Joe Lieberman (I-CT) in partnership with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Susan Collins (R-ME) plans to bring a standalone bill to a vote in the Senate to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” The “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal vote failed this afternoon, 57-40 on partisan lines, with the exceptions on Manchin (D-WV) voting no, and Collins voting yes.
Those not voting: Brownback (R-KS), Cornyn (R-TX), and Lincoln (D-AS). Lincoln claimed to have had a dentist appointment.
Via Twitter, Senator Lieberman made the following comments:
“@SenatorCollins and I and others are introducing a free standing bill to repeal #DADT today.”
“We are working with our colleagues and are confident that there are at least 60 Senators who support repeal.”
“Senator Reid told me he will “Rule 14” the free-standing #DADTrepeal so it skips cmte and can come directly to the Senate floor.”
Senator Mark Udall (D-CO) shortly after thew vote failed, took to the Senate floor and spokme eloquently about the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” and stated he remained “optimistic” that the Senate would find a way to get it done. He also offered to “stay through the holidays to debate it as a stand-alone measure.”
It’s unclear but seems that even if a standalone bill were to pass the Senate, it would need to be passed in the House as well.
Yet another hurdle.
The New Civil Rights Movement
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