The latest news on DADT repeal is that there are now officially 61 Senators who have either voted for repeal or announced that they will do so if it comes up again this year. When the measure failed last Friday there were 57 votes in favor (and 40 against).
Since then, Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), Olympia Snowe (R-ME), Scott Brown (R-MA) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) have all announced that they will support S. 4023, a stand-alone bill to repeal the military's anti-gay policy before the 111th Congress ends.
An identical bill to S. 4023 which would repeal DDT passed the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday 250-175.
It is expected there will be a final vote to send S. 4023 to the President's desk before the end of the Congress, but it has not been scheduled by Senator Harry Reid yet.
Showing posts with label Susan Collins. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Susan Collins. Show all posts
DADT Repeal Bill Passes House 250-175
Additionally, Senator Joe Lieberman, the author of S. 4023, the stand-alone bill to repeal DADT in the Senate, tweets that Senator Olympia Snowe has agreed to vote for DADT repeal. Currently S. 4023 has 44 co-sponsors, and one other Republican, the other Senator from Maine, Susan Collins.
DADT Repeal Bill Introduced in U.S. Senate
A standalone bill to repeal the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy was introduced on Friday December 10th and currently has 27 co-sponsors, including Republican Susan Collins and Independent Joe Lieberman, who sponsored the legislation, called S. 4023.
After a bid to keep DADT repeal in the National Defense Authorization Act failed by a vote of 57-40 on Thursday (since it takes 60 votes to break a filibuster) this last-minute federal legislation is the only vehicle left by which DADT can be repealed before the end of the 111th Congress.
There are currently 28 explicit supporters of the bill (including Lieberman):
Lieberman and Collins claim there are more than 60 votes to repeal DADT (Lisa Murkowki, Scott Brown, and Richard Lugar are all Republicans who have claimed to support the end of DADT). Even Democrat Joe Manchin of West Virginia who voted in favor of the filibuster has said that he would probably not vote that way again.
After a bid to keep DADT repeal in the National Defense Authorization Act failed by a vote of 57-40 on Thursday (since it takes 60 votes to break a filibuster) this last-minute federal legislation is the only vehicle left by which DADT can be repealed before the end of the 111th Congress.
There are currently 28 explicit supporters of the bill (including Lieberman):
Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] - 12/10/2010Both Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi have agreed to move on the legislation before the end of the year.
Sen Bennet, Michael F. [CO] - 12/10/2010
Sen Bingaman, Jeff [NM] - 12/10/2010
Sen Boxer, Barbara [CA] - 12/10/2010
Sen Brown, Sherrod [OH] - 12/10/2010
Sen Cardin, Benjamin L. [MD] - 12/10/2010
Sen Collins, Susan M. [ME] - 12/10/2010
Sen Coons, Christopher A. [DE] - 12/10/2010
Sen Dodd, Christopher J. [CT] - 12/10/2010
Sen Durbin, Richard [IL] - 12/10/2010
Sen Feinstein, Dianne [CA] - 12/10/2010
Sen Franken, Al [MN] - 12/10/2010
Sen Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [NY] - 12/10/2010
Sen Harkin, Tom [IA] - 12/10/2010
Sen Kerry, John F. [MA] - 12/10/2010
Sen Lautenberg, Frank R. [NJ] - 12/10/2010
Sen Leahy, Patrick J. [VT] - 12/10/2010
Sen Levin, Carl [MI] - 12/10/2010
Sen Lincoln, Blanche L. [AR] - 12/10/2010
Sen Menendez, Robert [NJ] - 12/10/2010
Sen Merkley, Jeff [OR] - 12/10/2010
Sen Murray, Patty [WA] - 12/10/2010
Sen Reid, Harry [NV] - 12/10/2010
Sen Udall, Mark [CO] - 12/10/2010
Sen Udall, Tom [NM] - 12/10/2010
Sen Whitehouse, Sheldon [RI] - 12/10/2010
Sen Wyden, Ron [OR] - 12/10/2010
Lieberman and Collins claim there are more than 60 votes to repeal DADT (Lisa Murkowki, Scott Brown, and Richard Lugar are all Republicans who have claimed to support the end of DADT). Even Democrat Joe Manchin of West Virginia who voted in favor of the filibuster has said that he would probably not vote that way again.
BREAKING: Senate Falls 3 Votes Short of DADT Repeal
The Senate has failed to invoke cloture on the NDAA including DADT repeal by a vote of 57-40.
Here is the president's statement:
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 9, 2010
Statement by the President on the Senate Vote on the National Defense Authorization Act
I am extremely disappointed that yet another filibuster has prevented the Senate from moving forward with the National Defense Authorization Act. Despite having the bipartisan support of a clear majority of Senators, a minority of Senators are standing in the way of the funding upon which our troops, veterans and military families depend. This annual bill has been enacted each of the past 48 years, and our armed forces deserve nothing less this year.
A minority of Senators were willing to block this important legislation largely because they oppose the repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.’ As Commander in Chief, I have pledged to repeal this discriminatory law, a step supported by the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and informed by a comprehensive study that shows overwhelming majorities of our armed forces are prepared to serve with Americans who are openly gay or lesbian. A great majority of the American people agree. This law weakens our national security, diminishes our military readiness, and violates fundamental American principles of fairness, integrity and equality.
I want to thank Majority Leader Reid, Armed Services Committee Chairman Levin, and Senators Lieberman and Collins for all the work they have done on this bill. While today’s vote was disappointing, it must not be the end of our efforts. I urge the Senate to revisit these important issues during the lame duck session.
###
Here is the president's statement:
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 9, 2010
Statement by the President on the Senate Vote on the National Defense Authorization Act
I am extremely disappointed that yet another filibuster has prevented the Senate from moving forward with the National Defense Authorization Act. Despite having the bipartisan support of a clear majority of Senators, a minority of Senators are standing in the way of the funding upon which our troops, veterans and military families depend. This annual bill has been enacted each of the past 48 years, and our armed forces deserve nothing less this year.
A minority of Senators were willing to block this important legislation largely because they oppose the repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.’ As Commander in Chief, I have pledged to repeal this discriminatory law, a step supported by the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and informed by a comprehensive study that shows overwhelming majorities of our armed forces are prepared to serve with Americans who are openly gay or lesbian. A great majority of the American people agree. This law weakens our national security, diminishes our military readiness, and violates fundamental American principles of fairness, integrity and equality.
I want to thank Majority Leader Reid, Armed Services Committee Chairman Levin, and Senators Lieberman and Collins for all the work they have done on this bill. While today’s vote was disappointing, it must not be the end of our efforts. I urge the Senate to revisit these important issues during the lame duck session.
###
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