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By Karoun Demirjian (contact) 
Published Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2010 | 11:15 a.m.
Updated Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2010 | 5:32 p.m.
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The effort to repeal the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy got derailed Tuesday after the full Republican caucus banded together to block the progress of a must-pass measure to authorize military spending – a development that promises to have consequences on the campaign trail, and maybe even on the battlefield.
Republicans largely painted Tuesday’s 56-43 vote on the motion to proceed to the bill – not enough to achieve the 60-vote supermajority needed to avoid filibuster – as a referendum on the repeal of the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, which prevents gays from serving openly in the military, and was part of the underlying defense authorization bill.
But by not even opening the floor for debate on the enormous annual spending package to fund various military programs and campaigns, “no” voters have set Congress up for a potential result it hasn’t seen for almost 50 years – the possibility that Congress will not pass any defense authorization bill at all.
That would mean no money for increased benefits and bonuses to military members, no acquisition of new systems, and no funding for various pending construction projects – because Congress must pass an authorization package for those projects before appropriators can fund them.
Republicans held rank as a party to oppose the bill, and were joined by Arkansas’ two Democratic senators, Mark Pryor and Blanche Lincoln. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid switched his vote to “no” at the last minute – a procedural move that allows him to bring the bill back up for another vote at a later time.
But that isn’t expected to happen until after the election – effectively killing Democrats’ ability to gain the mileage they had hoped would come from a positive vote on the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and passage of the DREAM Act, a measure that would offer a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants who entered the country as children and enroll in college or enlist in the military.
Democrats had settled on the annual defense authorization bill as the legislation to carry the repeal of DADT and the DREAM Act because it is considered a must-pass piece of legislation, and because both measures would widen the pool of potential military recruits.
Off the Senate floor, many Republicans strongly support both of those initiatives. But in the close run-up to an election season, politics appeared to trump policy for both sides Tuesday.
The fate of the bill was sealed Tuesday morning, when Sen. Susan Collins of Maine – the only Republican to vote for the defense authorization bill inclusive of a repeal of DADT in committee – said she would not cast a vote in support of the bill, despite her continued belief in the legislation, because Republicans weren’t being allowed to present amendments.
Reid limited the opening cache of amendments to three – a vote on stripping the DADT repeal from the legislation, followed by the DREAM Act, and finally, a measure to end the practice of Secret Holds – a method by which any one Senator can indefinitely stall legislation without having to publicly own up to, or take heat for, doing it.
“Now is not the time to play politics simply because an election is looming in a few weeks,” she said.
In the end, with two Democrats splitting off to join the Republican opposition, Collins’ vote wasn’t decisive. But the near-perfect split down party lines nonetheless opened up the Senate to the sort of interparty vitriol that has been dominated the character the campaign trail.
Opponents of DADT, led by Senate Armed Services committee ranking member John McCain, centered their criticism of the measure around the argument that the provisions are not relevant to a defense spending bill – and that DADT in particular runs counter to the wishes of military personnel.
“I’m not opposed to the principle of bringing up this defense bill,” McCain said on the Senate floor Tuesday. “What I am opposed to is bringing it up now, before the Defense Department has concluded its survey of our men and women in uniform.”
The Department of Defense has been conducting a survey, expected to be completed in December, of military members to study how best to implement a repeal of DADT – which Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Admiral Mike Mullen support.
But in making their argument, Republicans focused on a statement from the quartet of heads of the military branches, indicating a preference for waiting on the survey before pushing ahead with a repeal – and accused Democrats of rushing ahead on the legislation to play to their base on the campaign trail.
"In Senator Reid and the Democrats' zeal to get re-elected, this is a cynical ploy to galvanize and re-energize their base," McCain said. "I've never seen such cynical use of the needs of the men and women of our military and national security as Senator Reid and Senator [Carl] Levin [of Michigan] are doing ... It's a cynical act that appears to be to try to salvage a losing campaign."
Democrats, for their part, pounced on Republicans for refusing to even open the defense spending bill for opening discussions an amendments – despite the fact that they would have a final cloture vote to block the bill from moving forward after amendments had been discussed or adopted.
“We cannot allow filibusters to prevent us from getting to bills,” Levin said after the vote. “This certainly is a very powerful argument for why we should change the filibuster rules relative to the motions to proceed.”
Coincidentally, the Senate committee on Rules and Administration is expected to hold its fifth meeting in a series of hearings on legislative proposals to change the Senate procedures governing filibusters.
In a surprising twist, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell proposed a unanimous consent agreement moments before the scheduled vote, under which the Senate would have proceeded to the bill only if Democrats agreed not to raise any immigration-related amendment – even one entirely tailored to the military – in the first roster of 20 to be considered.
That reticence flies somewhat in the face of logic floated by conservatives, which that debate on immigration plays right into the hands of the Republican base, as measures to offer citizenship, even delayed citizenship, to illegal immigrants is easily interpreted as “amnesty.” Even Majority Whip Dick Durbin told reporters Tuesday that a lack of cohesion among Democrats on immigration matters would mean he’d need at least five Republicans to split from their party if the DREAM Act were to stand a chance of passing – a high price in a Senate where only six of the lawmakers who supported the legislation through past Congresses in non-election years remain in the body.
Though they disagree on the legislation, pro-immigrant and pro-enforcement alike acknowledge that the illegal immigrants that stand to benefit from the DREAM Act are perhaps the most sympathetic group of undocumented immigrants, having come to the United States as minors and petitioning the government for documentation in order to go to college or enlist in the military.
“The DREAM Act was supposed to be the easy part,” Durbin said Tuesday.
The failure of the DREAM Act especially has potential implications for the Reid, who is facing a fight for his political life in Nevada against Sharron Angle. Many assumed that the Reid campaign was taking a risky step out with the DREAM Act not simply to fulfill a policy promise, but to make a play to excite the Hispanic voters in his base.
But the DREAM Act never got even close to coming onto the floor Tuesday, and Reid offered his own harsh words against those who voted against even opening up the defense authorization bill for debate.
“Republicans are again playing politics with our national security,” Reid said. “I’m disappointed that my Republican colleagues put partisan politics ahead of the best interests of the men and women who courageously defend our nation. Democrats will continue to fight for our troops and will work to ensure that our troops have the resources they need to do their jobs.”
The DREAM act needs to die an ignoble death along with every other reason-defying social government program that rewards illegals for breaking the law.
How crass. Harry Reid put these two issues on the Defense Bill specifically so they would fail Harry gets a headline and wants to claim he fought for these groups but knew he did it in a way it could not pass. Just typical of him.
When Susan Collins goes on the floor and pleads for harry to open the act up for debate and amendments so she can support it you know he didn't want it to pass. Just another cynical game from the man from Searchlight. Playing politics because he is behind and can't run on his record.
Why does Nevada want gays and illegal immigrants defending our country? That's what Harry Reid wants for you.
This failure lies squarely on Harry's shoulders. He is an embarrassment to Nevada, the Nation and common decency.
This clown tries to stuff important legislation into a defense bill so he cry foul. What is foul, is the stench dirty Harry will leave behind.
I certainly don't like Harry Reid, but this Sharron Angle really scares me.
And this John Ensign, well he needs to just go!
This is pure politics, plain and simple.
Reid's spokesman in response for allowing debate and amendments on the bill said they would allow more after the election??????
This is admitting the entire thing was just posturing. A political stunt. I don't think the voters like the Senator playing games with Don't ask don't tell or the Dream Act.
Harry, your actions on both issues was disgraceful
gotjobs:
Get real!! Gays have been defending this country since the Revolutionary War. So for over 200 years, it's been mostly "don't tell".
"Dont ask..." is just as bad as saying I need a black person to cook/clean for me, and a mexican to do my gardening. No difference.
On the topic of Gay's. Canada and other countries allow Gay Marriage, has it changed the economy? Are there more gay kids in school? No no and no. Nothing has changed. America needs to stop being such a "damn fear-mongering of the unknown" country.
In regards to the road to citizenship. I think that's a brilliant idea. If someone wants to fight for America for 4 years or whatever (ACTIVE), they damn well should get a citizenship - Its more than most born Americans have done for their country.
I also believe they should provide citizenships to students that come here and graduate with top marks in any phd or equivalent program. Why would we spend $$$ and time teaching the best, just so they get kicked out after and go work for and benefit another country??! Never made sense.
The bill didn't pass because 3 Democrats voted against it, including Blanche Lincoln. The Republicans don't control the senate, they can't kill anything.
Blanche and Lincoln are idiots. As well as all Republicans that voted against it. Did any vote for it?
Uh....Blanche Lincoln is one person. Female senator from Arkansas.
I wouldn't talk about idiots.
lol. So I don't follow politics. They're all idiots!
Harry Reid voted against the bill...hmmm, do we really think he voted against it for 'tactical' reasons or do we think he voted against it for future political cover?...his voting pattern would seem to me to be the latter...
I agree.....they're all idiots.
Repubs want their "grandpa's" America, which is long gone.
And their intolerance makes it difficult for them to relate to what's replaced "grandpa's" America.
Gays used to hide. Now they don't. Repubs can't deal with it.
Minorities used to cower. Now they don't. Repubs can't deal with it.
Women used to tolerate back-alley abortions. Now they don't. Repubs can't deal with it.
The entire free world used to dance to our tune. Now they don't. Repubs can't deal with it.
Repubs are often paranoid xenophobes who perceive our entire existence being threatened by every little shadow.....
Democratic Sens. Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor of Arkansas sided with Republicans to block the bill. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., also voted against the measure as a procedural tactic. Under Senate rules, casting his vote with the majority of the Senate enables him to revive the bill at a later date if he wants.
I've got a GREAT IDEA for all of the openly gay in the military supporters.
All of you supporters should go and inlist in a branch of the military [which would be millions of you]and not declare your gayness until you are through basic training and posted then wammo slammo you all declare your 'preferences' and say what are you gonna do now?
I call this putting your monkey where your mouth is!
Noindex...I will ask Mr. Sun to remove your comment if you don't cite your reference...copying and pasting is below you indexer...bad, bad, index...
November 2nd can't get here soon enough...let our voices be heard....Obama/Reid and Pelosi all need to go
'In regards to the road to citizenship. I think that's a brilliant idea. If someone wants to fight for America for 4 years or whatever (ACTIVE), they damn well should get a citizenship - Its more than most born Americans have done for their country.'
Yes, a definite good idea.
Noindex...I will ask Mr. Sun to remove your comment if you don't cite your reference...copying and pasting is below you indexer...bad, bad, index...
Reference.......Purgatory
Which way is our country pointed; now that I see our military is being widdled down to a force of misfits. Although I thought I would never see this again, it is not anything new in our military history, post major conflicts most of our young men -- then, and women -- today, lose the feeling of honor to serve in our military.
Perhaps after learning of the lies or being made to feel unappreciated by the way our veterans are being treated, the number of fine men and women recruits go down, yet the need to maintain a hard-hitting force remains. But if we need to use felons or illegal immigrants to meet those demands of our standing army, then the draft needs to be reinstated, rather than lowering our standards.
These lost numbers can be attributed to both the loss of the middle class and the reluctance of the better-off class of Americans to risk their lives, leaving a void untenable for the DOD.
So, to try and politicize this circumstance with a DREAM act is preposterous, tell the American people exactly what we are faced with. Let the people know we can't meet the needs of our agriculture or our military either without immigrants legal or otherwise.
It is high time we let it be known to our fool hardy country men by our elected officials we are not an island, we need everyone on this continent if we expect our children to survive the next century, to the likes of the East or China.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u42wzteBF...
Can't wait for November 2d.
ILLEGALS PWNED!
Once again the GOP proves to be obstructionist as ever.
Why don't they just stage a full blown sit in or even go home and close congress down.
And people think Sharron Angle will be a help as part of the GOP loon squad!?!?!?
A few thoughts:
First, this was defeated due to a filibuster. In reality, 56 Senators, a clear majority, favored these reforms.
Second, this vote proves that the tea party and Republicans who claim to value the constitution are liars. They don't care about freedom, liberty or our constitutionally-guaranteed rights, they only care about protecting bigotry and discrimination against a minority, in the case of DADT.
Third, this vote proves all those right-wingers who cry and whine about Reid voting "against the wishes of his constituents" are liars. A clear majority in this country favor the repeal of DADT.
The right-wing are hypocrites and have no values.
Susan Collins never voted to allow Democrats to add amendments to Bush bills. Not once. Never. She always sided with her "controllers." Now, she has decided it is so paramount, that she will vote against a bill she claims she supports. HA! More likely she is a liar and opportunist and afraid of the next primary. She wants it both ways. Of course, it is possible she actually did vote her conscience.
Reid is merely guilty of thinking that in supporting his pal Blanche, she wouldn't stab him in the back. Well, she did again [and again and again.]
Wait until next year when we replace the caucus with a coven.
As usual, this is about Harry and nothing else. Harry was just being a weasel.
Cheap, cheap stuff not allowing debate on the entire bill. It is not as though there was a big push from the White House or the Dems for this. Where is the statesmanship in this?
As the Senator from Maine, she is hardly a cheap hack and has been support of trashing DADT policy.
BTW--Senate Rule 22-Filibusters--needs to go. This will ensure that neither the majority nor the minority can hide behind the threat of a filibuster. I haven't seen Harry step up to allow a vote on that.
GBigs:
Here is what happened as reported in the NY Times and reported very well by the way.
"Senate Republicans voted unanimously to block debate on the bill -- the huge, annual authorization of military programs -- after the majority leader, Harry Reid, Democrat of Nevada, said he would attach a number of the Democrats' election-year priorities to it while also moving to limit the amendments offered by Republicans."
"The vote was 56 to 43, with Democrats falling short of the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster and take up the bill. The Arkansas Democrats, Senators Blanche L. Lincoln and Mark Pryor, sided with all 40 Republicans present in opposing debate. Mr. Reid switched his vote to no at the last minute, a procedural maneuver that allows him to call for a revote."
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/22/us/pol...
As usual, the teabagger trolls here don't have their facts straight. (pun intended)
- Reid offered to work with Republicans on negotiating the amendments that would be introduced once the DoD bill comes up for a final vote.
- The Republicans all said NO... So what were they hiding? Why wouldn't they talk to Reid about what they wanted to introduce?
- Or as usual, were they just planning to abuse Senate process to introduce an infinite amount of ridiculous amendments just meant to slow down the bill to the point of halting all other legislation?
- For all the Republicans' talk about "jobs", they seem to have no interest in creating any! Why do they always want to slow down legislation like this instead of getting things accomplished and working on job creation?
- And why did they want to hold our military hostage like this? Over 70% of Americans want DADT repealed! Most service members want DADT repealed. Study after study shows DADT HARMS our national security by forcing us to let go of good soldiers.
- And not to mention, the DoD funding bill included a COLA pay raise for the troops, funding for veterans, and much more.
I just want to see Sharron Angle try to defend what the GOP did today. It'd just prove everything we've been saying all along.
gbigs:
The Dems. couldn't muster enough to overcome a filibuster which is why the matter was shelved. They won the vote 52 to 46.
You are enough to try anyone's patience.
oops 56 to 43.
(@atdleft--yes, we need to get our facts right--pun intended)
The illegal amnesty should die, but being afraid of gays OMG seems the good ol American Taliban is alive.
The Dems should have let the republican filibuster for a while, say to November 2, but didn't.
That would have been the ethical thing to do if they care so much about this bill.
Help stop illegal immigration. Get involved with a MILLION other people. HERE'S HOW: http://www.numbersusa.com/content/action...
atdleft,
nice post!
The Party Of No,
Doing what they do...
Just saying NO.
To EVERYTHING.
What is a "trusted commentator?"
Comment removed by moderator. Comment was a duplicate.
xtra (and everyone else), "trusted commenters" are people who have gone through our verification process to let us know who they actually are or have proven themselves trustworthy by their past comments. There will be a full story in the Las Vegas Sun and on this site tomorrow explaining things in more detail.
Levi
Thanks..it is fine with me!
Senator Reid just lost his seat in the U.S Senate, what is he thinking? He is not thinking... Illegal aliens should be sent back to where ever they came from PERIOD- Lets get ready to welcome Nevada's new Senator (Sharron Angle).
Harry Reid engages in unethical politics all too often. To attach an amnesty bill to a defense bill is cowardly. He couldn't get his DREAM act passed on its own merits, so he should have trashed it. Thank Goodness the "party of no" is willing to stand for right and oppose wrong.
The only reason the defense bill didn't make it to the floor for a vote is the Dream Act amendment.
Personally, I am very glad that Senator Reid's back door amnesty trick didn't work.
I am a democrat that supports strict enforcement of the immigration laws. I am also a democrat that will not EVER vote for any candidate that panders to illegals. How about about the 190,000 jobless Nevada citizens? Get rid of the illegals and most of these poor folks will have a job again.
It's his job to protect and serve Nevada citizens.