House Votes Again To End DADT!

[sabrina 1]

House votes again to end 'don't ask, don't tell

By Ed O'Keefe
Washington Post Staff Writer

Wednesday, December 15, 2010; 11:16 PM

House lawmakers on Wednesday again approved a bill to repeal the "don't ask, don't tell" law, delivering renewed momentum to the years-long campaign to end the ban on gays in the military ahead of a possible Senate vote next week.

The House voted 250 to 175 to repeal the 17-year-old law; 15 Republicans voted for the bill, and 15 Democrats voted against it.

The 75-vote margin was wider than a similar House vote in May, when language ending the ban was part of the annual defense authorization bill. That bill failed a procedural vote in the Senate last week, requiring another vote in the House on a separate measure to end to the gay ban.

President Obama heralded the vote, saying in a statement that ending current military policy "is not only the right thing to do, it will also give our military the clarity and certainty it deserves. We must ensure that Americans who are willing to risk their lives for their country are treated fairly and equally by their country."

Now it's up to the Senate. And it's beginning to look like it might happen this time. Harry Reid warned that "We are very quickly running out of days in this Congress. The time for week-long negotiations on amendments and requests for days of debate is over. Republican senators who favor repealing this discriminatory policy need to join with us now."

Lieberman and Susan Collins, also calling for a quick vote stated: "We are out of excuses"

Efforts to end "don't ask, don't tell" picked up a significant backer Wednesday in Sen. Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine). She said she would vote to repeal the law, joining Collins and Sens. Scott Brown (Mass.) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) as Republicans who have said they would do so - enough, when combined with the 57 Democrats who supported last week's failed attempt, to overcome any attempt by opponents at a filibuster.

Reid should call for a vote. It looks like they may have the votes this time!!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. And what a great holiday gift for ALL our military people!

Recommended.

[sabrina 1]

2. Yes, it would be CaliforniaPeggy.

And it looks like they have the votes now. :-)

[suffragette]

3. K&R

[HuckleB]

4. K & R!!!