Congress comes back to town next week. We’ve been hearing that the Senate will take up the Defense Authorization bill, which includes the compromise DADT language, in mid-September. But, there’s no firm commitment and a delay could cause serious problems. SLDN is prepared to take its case to Las Vegas if there’s no progress:
THEY’RE ASKING, BUT REID’S NOT TELLING – Gay rights advocates are pressing Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid for the date the defense authorization bill, which contains a provision to repeal “don’t ask don’t tell,” will come to the Senate floor. Before recess, Reid and his spokesman said they intended to bring up the defense policy bill soon after the chamber’s Sept. 14 return. But Aubrey Sarvis, executive director of Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, said without a date set, activists will be visiting Reid in Las Vegas. “In the absence of a specific commitment,” Sarvis told POLITICO. “I fear this could continue to slide.” Reid’s spokesman Jim Manley said the Senate will focus on small business next week. Defense authorization remains on the “to-do list” but no date is set, he said.
No date is set? We’re running out of time. That’s why SLDN is willing to escalate their efforts. And, I’m pretty sure most of the LGBT blogosphere, among others, will be willing to escalate, too.
Jim Messina at the White House and CAP’s Winnie Stachelberg better be paying attention here. They concocted the strategy behind the compromise. They better be working to make sure it passes this year.
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