Tomorrow’s vote on “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal — actually a “cloture” vote to end debate on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) — is under threat. Democrats have been hoping moderate GOP senators, like Olympia Snowe, would support moving forward for a vote. But now, at almost exactly the same minute that Lady Gaga is speaking in Snowe’s homestate, Snowe has released a statement saying “no.” She wants to wait to see the Defense Department’s “study” on ending DADT.
The Blade today claimed that moderates like Snowe and Collins were looking for “concessions” from the Democrats. It would appear those concessions have not come to fruition.
This does not mean the cloture vote will not happen tomorrow, it just means it just got a lot harder.
“First and foremost, the Senate should have the ability to debate more than the three amendments the Majority Leader is allowing, especially as this bill is the largest discretionary authorization measure that Congress considers, that the bill describes the policies and programs that provide resources and direction to the nearly 2.4 million men and women of the military – active, reserve and civilians, including the courageous Americans serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, and that two of the three amendments don’t even relate to the military. It is therefore imperative that Senate deliberations on the defense bill be conducted without limitations and in a manner that allows for the consideration of all related amendments that Senators may wish to offer.
“Moreover, as I have previously stated, given that the law implementing the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell†policy has been in place for nearly 17 years, I agree that it is overdue for a thorough review. The question is, whether we should be voting on this issue before we have the benefit of the comprehensive review that President Obama’s Secretary of Defense ordered in March, to secure the input of our men and women in uniform during this time of war – as the Joint Chiefs of Staff from all of the services have requested prior to any vote. We should all have the opportunity to review that report which is to be completed on December 1, as we reevaluate this policy and the implementation of any new changes.â€
(h/t; Pam Spaulding)