Log Cabin Republicans Calls Upon Democratic Leadership to Reach a Deal with Republicans on National Defense Authorization Act Vote

Sep 20, 2010 | LGBT, National Defense

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Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s tactics hold bipartisan support for repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ hostage
(Washington, DC) – Log Cabin Republicans calls on Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) to reach a compromise with Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to ensure that Republicans are allowed to offer amendments and proceed to a cloture vote on the National Defense Authorization Act of 2011 (NDAA), providing for legislative repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.'”There is an overwhelming majority of Senators, Democrats and Republicans, who are committed to repealing ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’ but Senator Reid’s partisan tactics could prevent the Senate from moving forward with this critical legislation for our nation’s military,” said Log Cabin Republicans Executive Director R. Clarke Cooper. “All senators should support repeal of this failed policy as a part of their duty to ensure stronger recruitment, retention and readiness for our armed forces. This historic achievement should not be scuttled because the Democratic Majority has decided to exclude Republicans from the legislative process.”

The only amendments permitted by Senator Reid prior to the National Defense Authorization Act cloture vote are the DREAM Act, which provides a path to citizenship for undocumented students who came to the United States as children; a amendment which would prevent Senators from placing ‘anonymous holds’ on legislation; and a amendment to strip ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ repeal from the NDAA.   Senator Reid will not allow any amendments offered by Republicans.

The Senate is expected to vote on the NDAA on Tuesday, September 21st.  There are enough Republican votes to ensure that this legislation proceeds and that the failed ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ is finally repealed.  However, many supportive Republican senators have indicated their opposition to the current bill because of Reid’s exclusion of Republicans from the amendment process.

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Log Cabin Republicans is the only Republican organization dedicated to representing the interests of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans and their allies. The more than 30-year old organization has state and local chapters nationwide, a full-time office in Washington, DC, a federal political action committee and state political action committees.