House to vote today on repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”

By Adam Bink

Updates will scroll from the top

Update 50: The bill passes 250-175 with 9 not voting. Great news. It got 16 more votes than in May, with 10 more Republicans voting yea. It will now proceed to the Senate. A new post is coming for reaction and a special announcement from Courage Campaign. This thread will no longer update.

Update 49: Bill is close to 250 votes. It will pass, only a question of the margin. Remember we got 234 in May.

Update 48: Wow. 14 Republicans voting in favor so far. Only got 5 in May.

Update 47: Stay tuned immediately following the vote for a special event hosted by Courage Campaign.

Update 46: Voting begins. 15 minute vote.

Update 45: And debates comes to a close with Rep. Susan Davis urging an aye vote. Not a single Republican spoke in favor of repeal.

Update 44: Rep. Al Green, Democrat from Houston, who says he himself as an African-American has experienced discrimination, says “I don’t need a survey to tell me what’s right when it comes to human rights… I will not ask people who are willing to die for my country to live a lie for my country.”

Update 43: A series of speakers continue making various argument. Reps. Walz, Buyer, Boccieri, Loretta Sanchez. Debate is coming to a close. Still no Republican to speak in favor of repeal.

Update 42: Rep. Barney Frank dismantles Republican complains about the holding up of the DOD bill. Notes that if we want to talk about distraction, the “maintenance” of this policy is a distraction with respect to the money spent, service members lost, etc.

Update 41: Rep. Joe Sestak, the highest-ranking veteran ever elected to Congress (he retired as an Admiral), and with whom I did an interview immediately after the plan to have a report, steps up. He notes how on his aircraft carrier that he commanded, “the average age is 19 and a half, and they just don’t care.”

Update 40: 6 minutes remaining for the anti-repeal folks, and 10.75 minutes for the pro-repeal folks.

Update 39: Rep. Louie Gohmert, a serious religious-based homophobe from eastern Texas, talks about how not everyone gets to serve who wants to serve, so cry me a river. He is on a righteous rant about how the military doesn’t have freedom of speech, assembly, or to “express love to those in the military the way you can out here.”

Update 38: Majority Leader and bill co-sponsor Steny Hoyer steps forward to say “it is never too late to do the right thing.” Quotes Barry Goldwater’s famous line about how it is more important that soldiers shoot straight than whether they are straight. Calls out Senate Republicans for blocking the DOD bill with DADT amendment. Rep. Hunter, the Marine, asks Hoyer what he thinks of some service chiefs being against repeal. Hoyer responds that their concerns seem to be founded on worrying over what the troops think. That’s why we did a survey. Notes the numbers now in favor among servicemembers. Overall, a lengthy and very good speech that garners applause.

Update 37: Rep. Chris Murphy from Connecticut steps up to note how folks like McCain have moved the goalposts, arguing for a study, arguing for listening to our military leaders. “Our troops are the best of the best and they deserve a Congress that puts our nat’l security over a rigid partisan ideology.”

Update 36: Rep. Langevin (D-RI) speaks in favor. Rep. Duncan Hunter, Jr., whose father once chaired Armed Services if I recall correctly, is the local majordomo Marine to oppose repeal. He oddly quotes Gen. Powell to make the argument that one can’t compare race and sexual orientation. “The United States military is not the YMCA. It’s somethin’ special!”, says Hunter. “The Marine Corps is not the place to have a liberal crusade to create a utopia and a liberal agenda of experiment.” Stay classy, Hunter.

Update 35: 234 House members  voted in favor of repeal last May with 10 not voting, though nearly all were anti-repeal. Any predictions on the number in favor now, given the public’s movement, the PCWG report’s conclusions, the movement in the courts, and the testimony of military leaders? Predictions on # of Republicans in favor also welcome (just 5 last time).

Update 34: A veteran, if not of the military of the civil rights battles of our nation’s history- Rep. John Lewis (D-GA)- steps up to give a dozen reasons to “Vote YES!”.

Update 33: Rep. Rob Andrews (D-NJ) steps up to quote Colin Powell, who now supports DADT repeal. Andrews has also been one of the louder voices on the importance of passing the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, though we still have a long way to go on that front. “This shoulda been done a long time ago; today is the day to get it done; vote yes.” Rep. Lamborn (R-CO) replies a bunch of nonsense.

Update 32: Rep. Todd Akin, Republican from Missouri, is complaining about lack of movement on the DOD bill. Again, talk to your friends in the Senate, Todd. We could have moved on the defense bill if they didn’t all sign a letter.

Update 31: Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA) is making a very forceful, specific argument in favor of repeal. Are we going to get a single pro-repeal Republican to speak?

Update 30: Rep. Vic Snyder, Democrat from Little Rock, is up talking about the valuable contributions gays and lesbians make for America and how his children will be better off with this law repealed. Very brief. Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD), steps up to complain about the lack of movement on the DOD authorization bill, but we’re voting on this. Hey, maybe if Roscoe told his colleagues in the Senate not to hold everything hostage for tax cuts for millionaires, we’d have moved on the DOD bill. That was the stated reason several Republicans voted against last week’s motion to proceed. Anyway, he says “now is not the time.”

Update 29: Rep. Joe “You lie!” Wilson (R-SC), who is ranking the military personnel subcommittee, rises to spout the usual arguments on “now is not the time”. I’d love to see how many of these folks support repeal if we were at peace. Of course, as long as there’s a servicemember overseas, it will probably never be considered “peace”.

Update 28: She continues by quoting today’s WaPo/ABC News poll demonstrating nearly 80% of the American public believe servicemembers should serve openly. Notes the vote in May was a “proud day” for the House.

Update 27: Speaker Pelosi heads to the floor to speak. She thanks a number of members for their leadership. She specifically acknowledges Rep. Patrick Murphy for his military service and political leadership on this issue. She says “repealing the discriminatory DADT policy will honor the service and sacrifices” of those who have defended the country. She notes she spoke on the floor 17 years ago, calling on the President (Clinton) to lift the ban. Laments the resulting policy that has resulted in more than 13,000 (actually 14,000) discharges from the military.

Update 26: Rep. Buck McKeon (R-CA), who is currently ranking Republican on the House Armed Services Committee and managed anti-repeal debate last time the House voted on this in May, is up. He quotes certain stats from the report, as well as a few service chiefs. He is taking the “repeal is great, but we should do it when we’re not at war”, quoting from Amos- even though that has been debunked.

Update 25: The White House just released a SAP (Statement of Administration Policy) on the House amendment. It reads:

The Administration strongly supports House passage of the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 2965, which would repeal the statute underlying “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” after the President, the Secretary of Defense, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff certify that implementation of the necessary policies and regulations related to the statutory repeal is consistent with the standards of military readiness, military effectiveness, unit cohesion, and recruiting and retention of the Armed Forces.  Congressional enactment of this legislation would allow a repeal to be implemented under terms and a timetable that would be informed by the advice of our military leadership.

The recently-released comprehensive study by the Department of Defense shows that overwhelming majorities of our Service members are prepared to serve with Americans who are openly gay or lesbian; it concludes that overall, and with thorough preparation, there would be low risk associated with the repeal.  The existing statute weakens our national security, diminishes our military readiness, and violates fundamental American principles of fairness, integrity, and equality.

Update 24: Rep. Susan Davis, from the San Diego/La Jolla area is up laying out all the reasons for repeal; testimony of Admiral Mullen and Sec. Gates; courts striking down the law leaving little/no time for implementation; the right of servicemembers to serve openly and honestly.

Update 23: Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO) getting her pro-repeal tweet on.

Update 22: Okay, floor debate on the bill itself is starting. 1 hour max. Then, at some point afterwards, they will have a vote on final passage and we’ll be done in the House. Rep. Susan Davis will manage floor debate on this portion.

Update 21: While we’re waiting, I’ve got video of Rep. Pingree’s great opening statement on floor debate today (h/t Pingree’s staff):

Update 20: The Heisman vote passed. There is now a vote on a resolution recognizing Gerda Weissman Klein, who I once saw speak at my local synagogue back home, on winning a Medal of Freedom. C-SPAN tells us this will be the last vote in the series of quick votes.

Update 19: The rule passes, 232-180. The House will proceed to 1 hour debate on the bill itself and then vote on passage, after they vote on other business (they are currently voting on a resolution congratulating Cam Newton on winning the Heisman, for example).

Update 18: For those in the comments, this is not the final vote on passage. This the vote on the rule that will govern the bill (which is closed, meaning no amendments). That said, votes on rules often mirror votes on the substance of the bill itself, so it may be similar. This rule will pass, but then we have to have a final vote on passage.

If anyone wants to see the last roll call on passage itself (e.g. the substance of the bill the last time it was voted on), I would recommend looking at the vote count on the Murphy amendment last May. Those numbers told you who was on our side. It’s essentially the same language as the bill that will be voted on later today. But if you want to compare apples to apples, you should compare the vote from the Murphy amendment in May to the vote on the Murphy amendment later this afternoon- not the vote on the rule they’re doing right now. I will let everyone know when they’re voting on the bill itself later this afternoon.

Update 17: While the House is voting, I thought I’d share the first letter to the editor to be published as a result of our West Virginia action asking constituents to write why they think DADT should be repealed and Sen. Manchin should vote to do so. It was published in the Charleston Daily Mail, and you can read it here.

Update 16: Vote on the rule has started.

Update 15: No more speakers on the pro-repeal side. It appears we won’t get a Republican pro-repeal speaker. Diaz-Balart has no more speakers either. Pingree closes saying she believes some folks run out of substantive arguments, and so they complain about process.

Update 14: Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee of Houston, always the best-dressed member of Congress in my opinion (no scarf today, but a lovely red jacket and flower broche) rises to deliver a fierce speech in support of a constituent who would like to serve, and in support of the freedom to serve. Go, girl.

Update 13: Rep. Peters, Democrat of Michigan, a veteran of the Navy reserve, rises to note that he’s served alongside brave men and women who were openly gay. I’d love to see one of the 5 Republicans who voted aye in May (Ros-Lehtinen, Ron Paul, Djou, Biggert, Cao) or are supportive now to speak in support.

Update 12: Diaz-Balart rises to complain that the majority is using another bill to accomplish this with broad bipartisan support (a small business bill) and the rule that is being debated strikes that legislation and inserts DADT repeal language “into that shell”. Which Republicans have done before, but whatever. This is being done to avoid a filibuster on the motion to proceed in the Senate. But as Frank notes, there has been open debate and votes on this in both houses.

Update 11: Frank continues by noting “we’ve gone through triple regular order” by noting a vote on the House floor, a vote in the Senate committee, and a vote again today.

Update 10: Rep. Barney Frank is up. He notes the “bizarre procedural argument that we are not adopting regular order.” He’s referring to Diaz-Balart’s complaint on the rules. He notes the House has already passed repeal via the Murphy amendment last May, which I note in the update below this.

Update 9: Remember that DADT repeal passed the House 234 in favor, 194 opposed, 10 not voting last May. Interesting to see how much that increases post-Pentagon report.

Update 8: Rep. Berkley and Quigley rise to make very fine speeches as well.

Update 7: Rep. Harman rises to recall her experience as the most junior member of the House Armed Services Committee in 1993, as a freshman member, remembering telling General Colin Powell, when he came to testify, that she believed DADT was unconstitutional. “I opposed it then, and I oppose it now.”

Update 6: Rep. Tsongas notes that DADT is the only federal statute remaining that requires people to be fired because of their  sexual orientation.

Update 5: Rep. Pingree is going through reasons to support repeal: the PCWG report; misguided arguments against allowing women to serve in combat; moral reasons regarding serving in slience. Diaz-Balart rises on the other side to mumble nonsense and complaints about House procedure, mostly. Rep. Polis does a fine job articulating reasons to vote in favor of repeal. Rep. Gingrey rises to rant about a social agenda.

Update 4: Rep. Pingree is up. Debate on the rule itself is starting. There will be one hour of debate time, equally divided between Pingree and the Republicans, led by Lincoln Diaz-Balart of Florida.

Update 3: I’m told Pepe Johnson, the veteran discharged under DADT who we quoted in our e-mail blast to West Virginian Courage Campaign members on Monday, stopped by Sen. Manchin’s office at 11 AM EST to deliver a boatload of petitions urging repeal. I’ll update if there are photos/videos.

Update 2: In a great sign, Sen. Reid says Congress doesn’t end at Christmas time:

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid threatened to keep the Senate in session after Christmas, all the way up to the beginning of next Congress if the GOP doesn’t get out of the way and allow votes on Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell repeal, the START treaty and other key Democratic initiatives.

“There’s still Congress after Christmas. So if the Republicans think that because they can stall and stall and stall that we take a break we’re through — we’re not through,” Reid said. Congress ends on January 4.”

Good. Stay until it’s done or until they drag our allies out of the chamber.

Update 1: The Speaker’s office said a vote is expected around 3-4 PM EST, with debate to occur prior.

Today, the House is expected to vote on repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”. The bill is sponsored once again by Rep. Patrick Murphy of Pennsylvania, a veteran of the Iraq war and straight ally, and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of Maryland. The vote comes as a new Washington Post/ABC News poll came out this morning showing 77% of Americans support allowing those who disclose their sexual orientation to serve openly. That’s the highest level of support ever recorded in the poll and another demonstration of how the public supports this change- whether Republican or Democrat, Massachusetts or West Virginia.

Just now, Rep. Chellie Pingree, Democrat from Maine, who will be managing the bill on the floor, tweeted:

@chelliepingree In Rules committee, preparing to bring the repeal of DADT to floor. I hope to manage bill shortly. Time to end this discrimination!

I am told by Rep. Pingree’s office that debate could start as early as 11 AM EST. In fact, I’m watching one-minute speeches right now during morning business, and Rep. John Garamendi, who many of you may know as the former Lieutenant Governor of California and is now Congressman from the Walnut Creek area, is up speaking about the importance of repealing the law today. Good for him.

Afterwards, the bill will proceed to the Senate under privileged status as a “message”, enabling Sen. Reid to avoid a vote on the motion to proceed and 30 hours “maturation” for the motion, saving a few days under this tight calendar. Sen. Reid has not announced a date for the vote yet; expect an announcement pending a deal and movement of the Senate on the tax legislation, and after today’s House vote on repeal. Also, stay tuned for a special event tonight from Courage Campaign.

This thread will update as I get notice of when debate will begin, and I will be covering the debate and vote here. Updates will scroll from the top.

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/reid-pledges-post-christmas-votes-if-gop-keeps-stalling.php