Last-Minute Effort by GOP Sen. To Block "Don't Ask" Repeal Fails
In a last-ditch effort to block the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell last night reportedly filed an amendment to a sweeping defense bill that would likely have prevented or delayed the repeal's implementation, Politico reports.
The amendment, which was filed to the broad defense authorization bill, would have required four military service chiefs to actively take part in the certification process that must take place before repeal goes into effect. That would have put Marine Corps chief General James Amos, who strongly opposes repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," in a position to delay or block implementation.
Currently, the repeal requires the certification of President Obama, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mike Mullen.
"It was a McConnell proposal," a GOP aide confirmed to Politico. "There was an attempted to get unanimous consent for it to be included in the defense bill and someone objected."
That someone was reportedly Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman, who sponsored the Senate version of the "Don't Ask" repeal. Following his Tuesday-night objection, the amendment was struck from the final text of the defense authorization bill.
President Obama is scheduled to sign the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" this morning at 9:15am. The Senate on Saturday passed a bill to allow repeal of the 1993 policy, which prevents gay men and women from serving openly in the military.
