Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
On Wednesday, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 6520, the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010," by a vote of 250-175.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi worked her tactical magic in passing the bill. Senate Democrats Try New Route to Repealing 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell':
For procedural reasons aimed at circumnavigating some of the blocking efforts by Republicans in the Senate, the Democrats needed a legislative vehicle that the majority leader, Harry Reid of Nevada, could call up without a round of votes that could take up the better part of a week.
And using the [Enhancing Small Business Research and Innovation Act of 2009] as a legislative “shell” does the trick. The language authorizing repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell” is substituted for the language in the small business bill. And presuming it is approved by the House, it can be returned to the Senate as a privileged message making it easier for Mr. Reid to call it up.
As David Waldman explains Daily Kos: Today in Congress:
Oh, by the way, for those wondering, the Senate can use the same expedited procedure to pass DADT repeal that it used for the tax bill earlier this week. That is, make a motion to concur in the House amendment to the bill that was used as a vehicle for the repeal yesterday. Just like the tax bill, DADT repeal comes as a substitute amendment for the text of a bill previously passed back and forth between the House and Senate. That means no motion to proceed, and just one shot at the filibuster instead of two or more.
Most news reports have 59 senators publicly committed to DADT repeal, one vote shy of cloture. Democrats should bring pressure to bear on freshman Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) who voted against cloture when DADT repeal was attached to the Defense Approproproations bill. This is now a stand-alone bill.
BREAKING: Talkingpointsmemo.com now reports that Scott Brown And Lisa Murkowski Back Standalone DADT Repeal Bill:
Proponents of repealing the military's ban on openly gay servicemembers have enough votes in the Senate to get it done this year. The only thing standing in the way of ending Don't Ask, Don't Tell now is time.
Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA) is backing the standalone Don't Ask, Don't Tell bill in the Senate, his office confirms to TPM. So is Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK). The pair join Republican Sens. Susan Collins (ME) and Olympia Snowe (ME) in publicly supporting the measure, giving it more than enough votes to secure the 60 needed for cloture, the first step before a final vote that would almost assuredly come down on the side of repeal.
So if Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid can find time for the bill in the closing days of the lame duck session, it appears that the military's ban on openly gay servicemembers would end this year.
Republicans are now threatening to "shut down the government" if the House balks on the Obama-Republican tax cut compromise and over their objections to the Omnibus Appropriations bill. Republicans Make Good On Threat To Force Lame Duck Spending Showdown | TPMDC. It's just never enough for these gangsters, they always want more.
The vote on DADT repeal may occur as early as Friday. You know what to do.
UPDATE: Greg Sargent at the Plum Line explains How Harry Reid can make time for DADT repeal.