New Showdown: House Plans Vote on Military Gay Ban DADT
 

In a new showdown on a volatile issue, the House this week will take up a bill that would overturn the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy on gays, Democratic leader Steny Hoyer revealed Tuesday.

The move would put pressure on the Senate to delay its holiday adjournment plans and take up a repeal bill sponsored last week by Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine and Connecticut's independent senator, Joseph Lieberman. That bill's fate has been in doubt because of other pressing issues facing the Senate with only days to go before it planned to conclude its lame-duck session.

Repeal advocates see this week as their last best shot at overturning "don't ask, don't tell," which bars gay troops from acknowledging their sexual orientation. Next year, Republicans take back control of the House and additional Senate seats, severely undercutting the chances that any Democratic priority will advance come January.

"This discriminatory and harmful policy has weakened America's security by depriving us of the work of tens of thousands of gay and lesbian troops who have served their country honorably," Hoyer said in a statement. "And it has severely compromised our Armed Forces' core value of integrity."

Hoyer on Tuesday said he would introduce the bill with Pennsylvania Democratic Rep. Patrick Murphy as his co-sponsor. A vote was expected as early as Wednesday.

Last May, the House voted 234-194 in favor of repeal legislation as part of a broader defense policy bill. But that bill has stalled in the Senate where Republicans have blocked it on procedural grounds and questioned unrelated provisions, including one that would allow abortions at overseas military facilities.

A stand-alone bill to overturn the military ban on openly gay troops has been introduced by Collins and Lieberman in the hopes that the slimmed-down version would attract fewer objections.

But that bill had been considered a long-shot because any Senate action would require House approval with just days before Congress was to adjourn.

The last-minute House vote would eliminate that concern and put pressure on Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., to keep the Senate in session past this weekend to wrap up any unfinished business. Reid has said he would try to convene a vote on the bill before adjournment.

Sixty senators are believed to support the bill, giving it a filibuster-proof majority, if enough debate time is allowed.

It has some 40 co-sponsors with Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia being the only known Democratic opponent. At least four Republicans --. Collins, and Sens. John Ensign of Nevada, Scott Brown of Massachusetts and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska -- have said they back repeal.

"We'll soon find out if promises made will be promises kept," said Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign, an advocate of repealing the law.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010...itary-gay-ban/

Re: New Showdown: House Plans Vote on Military Gay Ban DADT
 

Maybe they should attach it to the Dream Act.

Re: New Showdown: House Plans Vote on Military Gay Ban DADT
 

yeah.....lol

Re: New Showdown: House Plans Vote on Military Gay Ban DADT
 

This is stupid.

How many people actually are harmed by DADT? Is there really that many gay people who are willing to fight and protest to join the Army?

Re: New Showdown: House Plans Vote on Military Gay Ban DADT
 

How is it stupid when a large majority of the country and politicians want to repeal it?

Re: New Showdown: House Plans Vote on Military Gay Ban DADT
 

You're an idiot. They're being discriminated agaisnt for nothing more than sexual preference. I understand that we're in a hurry to get a vote, but the DADT should come first. Think for America.

Re: New Showdown: House Plans Vote on Military Gay Ban DADT
 

I don't think DADT should be a priority at the moment to be honest, not from my perspective. At least if I was legal I'd be able to enroll even if I was gay and wouldn't have to disclose my orientation, but without a status Im not allowed to enroll even if DADT was repealed.

Re: New Showdown: House Plans Vote on Military Gay Ban DADT
 

Military rules for joining are clearly stated when you sign up. It is completely a voluntary armed services. So I dont understand what the argument is about if you dont want to abide by the military rules then dont join. Rule is "Dont ask dont tell".

Re: New Showdown: House Plans Vote on Military Gay Ban DADT
 

Because they should be able to join if they want to join.

Re: New Showdown: House Plans Vote on Military Gay Ban DADT
 

They (we) can join if they want to.