'Don't ask' repeal gains momentum

[Swede]

The long-running legislative saga over repeal of the military’s ban on gays in uniform seems headed to a dramatic endgame, with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) threatening to call a vote on the issue this week despite serious misgivings from repeal advocates who fear the timing could doom efforts to unwind the 17-year-old policy.

Reid said Wednesday he intended to bring up the defense budget bill containing “don’t ask” repeal language after the lame-duck Senate completes votes on four other pieces of legislation Wednesday afternoon, though those votes later slipped into the evening. “We have a lot of things to do in a short period of time,” Reid said.



Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1210/46167.html#ixzz17dG3uoF7

[Bandit]

1. Lisa Murkowski said she would back DADT but ONLY if Republicans

can add all the amendments they want..DADT is not going to pass IMO

[Pirate Smile]

2. Collins is the one who really is in charge of the Republican demands. Yesterday, she finally put

them on the table - 15 Amendments - 10 R, 5 D with chance to add a few if necessary AND 4 days to debate. That is easily doable.

It is going to get repealed unless the House completely blows up the tax deal so nothing gets done - forget DADT repeal, START, etc. I don't think the House will end up doing that although there will be drama before it gets passed. What will happen - after the tax compromise passes then DADT repeal & START get passed.

[terrya]

3. The vote should be happening in the next 30 minutes or so.