MsTinkerbelly
09-13-2010, 06:27 PM
DADT: Sen. Harry Reid announces Senate will vote on defense bill, including DADT repeal, next week
By Eden James
Various sources have been breaking this news today, including the Washington Blade which was the leader of the pack:
The Washington Blade has learned that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) intends to schedule a vote next week on major defense budget legislation that contains “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal language, regardless of any objection from members of the U.S. Senate.
A senior Democratic leadership aide, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said Reid met with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Monday to inform the Republican leader that the fiscal year 2011 defense authorization bill will come to the Senate floor the week of Sept. 20.
Of course, Sen. John McCain might have something to say about it, having threatened to filibuster the defense budget bill a few moths ago if it included DADT repeal.
Despite McCain’s threat, Sen. Reid is pushing ahead and apparently willing to make it a campaign issue in his home state of Nevada. Here’s the text of an email he apparently sent to his campaign list:
Senator Reid has reiterated his commitment to repealing the military’s ban on gays serving in our armed forces. This afternoon, he informed Republicans that he intends to bring the Defense Authorization Bill–including a repeal of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy–to the Senate Floor next week.
This would overturn the decade-old policy that bars openly gay, lesbian or bisexual Americans from serving in our armed forces, and is an important step towards equal treatment of all Americans.
Senator Reid believes that Americans should not be denied the opportunity to serve their country just because of their sexual orientation. Please visit our website for more information. Voice your support for repealing DADT by signing up online to support Harry Reid.
Megan Jones
Friends for Harry Reid
Alex Nicholson from Servicemembers United had this to say:
“We are both pleased and relieved that Senator Reid has decided to schedule the defense authorization bill for floor time next week,” said Alexander Nicholson, founder and Executive Director of Servicemembers United.
“We are fairly confident that we will have the 60 votes to break a filibuster of this bill. It would be shameful for lawmakers to vote to hold up an important and expansive piece of legislation like the defense authorization bill simply because of their opposition to one or two provisions within it,” Nicholson said.
By Eden James
Various sources have been breaking this news today, including the Washington Blade which was the leader of the pack:
The Washington Blade has learned that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) intends to schedule a vote next week on major defense budget legislation that contains “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal language, regardless of any objection from members of the U.S. Senate.
A senior Democratic leadership aide, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said Reid met with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Monday to inform the Republican leader that the fiscal year 2011 defense authorization bill will come to the Senate floor the week of Sept. 20.
Of course, Sen. John McCain might have something to say about it, having threatened to filibuster the defense budget bill a few moths ago if it included DADT repeal.
Despite McCain’s threat, Sen. Reid is pushing ahead and apparently willing to make it a campaign issue in his home state of Nevada. Here’s the text of an email he apparently sent to his campaign list:
Senator Reid has reiterated his commitment to repealing the military’s ban on gays serving in our armed forces. This afternoon, he informed Republicans that he intends to bring the Defense Authorization Bill–including a repeal of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy–to the Senate Floor next week.
This would overturn the decade-old policy that bars openly gay, lesbian or bisexual Americans from serving in our armed forces, and is an important step towards equal treatment of all Americans.
Senator Reid believes that Americans should not be denied the opportunity to serve their country just because of their sexual orientation. Please visit our website for more information. Voice your support for repealing DADT by signing up online to support Harry Reid.
Megan Jones
Friends for Harry Reid
Alex Nicholson from Servicemembers United had this to say:
“We are both pleased and relieved that Senator Reid has decided to schedule the defense authorization bill for floor time next week,” said Alexander Nicholson, founder and Executive Director of Servicemembers United.
“We are fairly confident that we will have the 60 votes to break a filibuster of this bill. It would be shameful for lawmakers to vote to hold up an important and expansive piece of legislation like the defense authorization bill simply because of their opposition to one or two provisions within it,” Nicholson said.