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Senate panel votes end to 'don't ask, don't tell'


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WestVirginiaRebel
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Breitbart:

The Senate Armed Services Committee has voted to repeal the 1993 law known as "don't ask, don't tell" and allow gays to serve openly in the military.

The 16-12 vote endorses an end to the Clinton-era policy under which gays could serve in the military only if they don't disclose their sexual orientation.

The full House planned to take an identical measure later Thursday or Friday.

House Republicans were strongly against it, citing letters from armed services chiefs urging Congress to wait until the Pentagon completes a study of the impact of the repeal on military life and readiness.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

WASHINGTON (AP)—Congress neared precedent-setting votes Thursday on whether to allow gays to serve openly in the military.

A House vote, which could come Thursday evening, would repeal the 1993 law known as "don't ask, don't tell" that has effectively required gays wishing to join the military to hide their sexual orientation.

The Senate Armed Services Committee was also prepared to vote on the issue. In both cases the initiative to end the ban was attached to a $760 billion defense spending bill.

The gay rights amendment, supported by President Barack Obama, is the product of a compromise with Pentagon leaders: It will not go into effect until the Pentagon completes a study, expected in December, on the ramifications of the policy change and until the president, the defense secretary and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff certify that it won't hurt the military's ability to fight.

As debate on the defense bill opened in the House, Republicans objected to legislating the ban before the study is completed.

"We're saying 'we're shoving this down your throat,'" said Rep. Louis Gohmert, R-Texas. "The military is not a social experiment. We are sending them out there with a mission to protect this country."

But Rep. Jared Polis, an openly gay Democrat from Colorado, said most Americans "recognize that on the battlefield, it doesn't matter if a soldier is lesbian, gay or straight. What matters is they get the job done for our country."

"We need to get this done, and we need to get it done now," said Rep. Patrick Murphy, a Pennsylvania Democrat who served in the Iraq war and who is the chief sponsor of the amendment.

Supporters said this week the Senate panel had enough votes to pass the bill after key holdouts, including Sen. Ben Nelson, a Nebraska Democrat, announced they would swing behind it.

"In a military which values honesty and integrity, this policy encourages deceit," Nelson said.

Nelson said a provision in the bill giving the military the power to decide on the details of implementing the policy was key to his support because it "removes politics from the process" and ensures repeal is "consistent with military readiness and effectiveness."

Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., another uncertain vote, also said Wednesday he would support the measure after succeeding in adding a provision that Congress will have 60 days to study the Pentagon study before the repeal goes into effect.

Advocates hoped the momentum in the Senate would carry over to the House, where several conservative Democrats—including Rep. Gene Taylor of Mississippi—threatened to oppose the massive defense spending bill if it included the repeal provision.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates has said he supports repeal but would prefer that Congress wait to vote until he can talk to the troops and chart a path forward. A study he ordered is due Dec. 1.
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It's probably going to happen, but not before the end of the year.
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