Susan Collins Will Not Vote To Repeal Dont Ask Dont Tell

by NowPublic Staff | September 21, 2010 at 09:21 am

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Dont Ask Dont Tell Senate Vote Update: Senator Susan Collins Will Not Vote To Repeal Dont Ask Dont Tell - Republican Filibuster Will Likely Continue

It is increasingly looking like Don't Ask Don't will not be repealed as part of defense spending bill that Senate is scheduled to vote on Tuesday.

Maine Senator Susan Collins has announced she will vote not to repeal Don't Ask Don't Tell, the New York Times is reporting.

Ms. Collins, who backs repeal of the policy, said she would nonetheless vote against moving forward with debate because of a dispute with the Senate majority leader, Harry Reid of Nevada, over whether Republicans would be allowed to offer amendments to the bill.

“I cannot vote to proceed to this bill under a situation that is going to shut down debate,” Ms. Collins said.

Senator Collins supports the principal of repealing Dont Ask Dont Tell but says the Democrats are playing politics with defense spending legislation.

"I'm going to make plea to my colleagues to enter into a fair time agreement that will allow full and open debate, full and open amendments to all provisions of this bill including Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

Clearly, the last minute lobbying efforts on the part of Lady Gaga did not help. The pop star was in Maine on Monday for a rally to support the repeal of Dont Ask Dont Tell.

The Democrats need 60 votes in the Senate for the vote to pass now that prospect is becoming increasingly dim and the issue will likely not be addressed again until after the November mid-term elections.