Dems Fail to Get Enough Votes to Proceed on DADT/Defense Bill - The American Spectator | USA News and Politics
Dems Fail to Get Enough Votes to Proceed on DADT/Defense Bill
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The Senate on Tuesday afternoon voted against moving forward on the defense authorization bill that included a repeal of “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.” The vote ended up 56 to 43, but 60 votes were needed to proceed.

The bill also included the DREAM Act, which would grant a path to legal status for illegal immigrants who serve in the military.

All Republicans voted against the bill, and so did Arkansas Democratic Sens. Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor.* (see UPDATE)

Democrats will no doubt use the defeat to argue to their base that they are trying to do something on gays in the military and immigration reform, but are being thwarted by Republicans.

Before the vote, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid addressed Republican obstructionism, saying, “It’s remarkable we have been able to get as much done as we have, given all the roadblocks that have been thrown up.”

UPDATE: All Republicans who voted, voted against the bill, but Sen. Lisa Murkowski didn’t vote. Instead, the 43rd vote against came from Reid himself, which the Washington Independent reports, was to keep his procedural options open. Here’s the full roll call of the vote.

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