Lieberman Proposes Long-Shot DADT Repeal
Talking Points Memo reports:
A long shot, last ditch effort to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell could still succeed.
At a press conference today, after the Defense Authorization bill -- and with it the DADT repeal -- went down to defeat in a cloture vote, Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) explained. "Senator Collins and I, Senator Udall and others will be, perhaps by the end of this day, introducing a free-standing bill -- a separate piece of legislation -- to repeal the Don't Ask Don't Tell policy," he said.
Senators introduce legislation all the time, so this wouldn't mean much -- except for the exchange Lieberman had on the floor with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.
"I informed Senator Reid during the vote... that we're going to do that, and he said, 'Same language as in Defense Authorization bill?' I said, 'yes.' He said, 'put me down as a co-sponsor.' I said, "Harry, we're going to ask you to bring this to a vote before the end of the lame duck session.' He said, 'I will bring it to the active calendar under Rule 14.'"
Rule 14 is a Senate procedure that gives the majority leader the right to expedite legislation.
"As far as the efforts to repeal don't ask don't tell, it ain't over," Lieberman said.
