(Community Matters) A lot of my meetings in DC dealt with the status of overturning Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. Senator Levin, chairman of the Senate Armed Services committee, spoke at our luncheon, expressing his overwhelming support to overturn the discriminatory legislation – and he needs help obtaining a majority in his committee so the overturn can be included in the Defense Authoriziation Bill’s markup. Before anyone gets their panties in a wad about why we are attaching it to defense authorization, that’s how the ban was passed in the first place.
HRC is deploying field to help build the grassroot support needed. I’m happy to talk with my friends directly about this, not so inclined to blog about the specifics.
In the House, the Armed Services Committee is not so helpful; Chairman Skelton is not supportive. It doesn’t help that he comes from one of the most R-leaning congressional districts held by a D in the country. Congressman Patrick Murphy has taken on passage of the overturn and has done an extraordinary job. As of Saturday, he had 190 co-sponsors. We need 218 votes; we feel optimistic and will continue to press for public promises. Chairman Murphy’s key congressional aid for defense joined us for breakfast on Saturday.
It is quite possible that Congress will pass overturn of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell with this defense authorization in the late spring or summer. It is in no way a done deal but its chances are now better than not.
The study underway by the Pentagon is not IF DA/DT should be implemented, it’s about how.
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