"Don't Ask, Don't Tell," DREAM Act, Head to Senate for Votes This Weekend

By: Lucy Madison
Topics: In The News ,; Democrats ,; Domestic Issues ,; Congress

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nev., talks to the media on Capitol Hill in Washington Thursday, Dec. 16, 2010.

(Credit: AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

After abandoning on Thursday night a $1.3 trillion omnibus Senate spending bill, Democratic Senate Leader Harry Reid filed cloture for the DREAM Act and a stand-alone repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" - both of which are now expected to reach the Senate for final votes as early as this weekend.

Reid, faced with receding Republican support for the spending bill (not to mention threats to read it aloud in its 1,924-page entirety), turned his attention instead to two bills that liberal Democrats hope to push through in the final days of the lame duck congressional session.

The Senate is now expected to vote on debate for both the DREAM Act and a repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" on Saturday morning, and the Washington Post reports that final votes on both bills could take place as early as Sunday or Monday.

The Saturday vote on "Don't Ask" will be Senate Democrats' third attempt this year to eliminate the policy, which prohibits openly gay men and women from serving in the military, and many believe it the best - and possibly last - chance to repeal the measure before a newly Republican-heavy Congress convenes in 2011.

"I want to thank Senator Reid for his leadership in bringing the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010' to the Senate floor for a vote," said Independent Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman, one of the bill's sponsors, in a recent statement. "I am confident that we have more than 60 votes to end this law that discriminates against military service members based solely on their sexual orientation. Repealing 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' will affirm the Senate's commitment to the civil rights of all Americans and also make our military even stronger."

The most recent attempt to repeal "Don't Ask," which was tied to a larger defense spending bill, is believed to have failed as a result of procedural objections by moderate conservatives like Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown, who has said he would vote for repeal - but not until Congress had passed a tax plan.

Upon the passage early Friday morning of a sweeping bipartisan tax bill, however, Democrats expect they now have the necessary 60 votes to avoid a filibuster and pass the bill.

Republican Sens. Brown (who on Thursday confirmed his willingness to vote for the bill), Susan Collins (Maine), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) and Olympia Snowe (Maine) have said they would support the bill, and all but one Democrat - West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin - is believed to be in favor of voting for repeal.

The prospects of the DREAM Act, however, are less clear. The measure, which would provide undocumented young people with pathways to American citizenship, has inspired criticism from Republicans and Democrats alike, and a Senate vote on the legislation was recently delayed due to lack of sufficient support for passage.

Lucy Madison is a political reporter for CBSNews.com. You can read more of her posts here. Follow Hotsheet on Facebook and Twitter.

Lucy Madison
Lucy Madison is a political reporter for CBSNews.com.
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by denvrcoonass December 18, 2010 9:06 PM EST: We're the laughing stock of the free world for this policy. It needs to be scrapped; that's all there is to it. Almost every other major military power in NATO accepts gays as soldiers; we are in the company of Russia, China and the tyrannies of the Earth in persecuting them in our military. It's time to behave as a great democracy.; Reply to this comment


by Imjustme007 December 18, 2010 4:56 PM EST: Personally I couldn't care less who is gay or who is not. It's not like people didn't already know who was or at least speculated before this was such a big political issue. So in essence it was already a "distraction." There isn't a unit in the armed forces where discussion hasn't gone on about who may or may not be gay so now everyone's cards can be on the table once and for all and we can all move on with our lives and hopefully more important and pertinent business... u know... like the war we're in.
However on another note... I would like to ask that reporters at large refer to our president as President Obama and not Mr. Obama. He stopped being just Mr. Obama when he won the election. Respect his position. Thanks. I am referring to this line : After Mr. Obama signs the repeal, he and military leaders must....

I just feel like nationwide he isn't getting the respect the position demands. So please make that adjustment. Thanks.; Reply to this comment

by oldbasicgal December 18, 2010 10:25 AM EST

DO NOT PLACE FURTHER TAX BURDEN ON THE MIDDLE CLASS AT THIS TIME.

DO NOT PASS THE DREAM ACT.

YES, I'M YELLING. I'M WATCHING NITWITS ON THE NEWS THAT ARE FOR IT.

THEY ARE INSANE!

SEND OUR INJURED VETS BACK TO COLLEGE BEFORE YOU SEND ILLEGALS.

DON'T MAKE THEM COMPETE WITH ILLEGALS FOR OUR TAX DOLLARS.

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by clarkw11 December 18, 2010 5:47 PM EST: I couldn't agree more. I would add that we should just make Mexico our 51st State.


by jackpenn December 18, 2010 10:24 AM EST: What is the difference in having women fight, or be with men in combat, or in the military service, as it already is established today, or having gay men serving, and fighting with men, or gay women fighting, or serving with women? The sexual desire could still come into play either way, and I believe the point is not to put this desire in play at all, especially during a combat situation. The military has made this issue sound like a double standard, because it is okay to have men with women in the military, but having gay people in the military would cause a different problem. I know when I was serving in Vietnam, I was 19 and in the prime of my sexual desires, and if I had women serving right nezt to me in combat, it would have been very hard, (no pun intended) to restrain from wanting to have sexual relations with the woman serving right with me.; Reply to this comment


by leopard_colony December 18, 2010 10:21 AM EST: Betrayal by both Republicans and Democrats has driven Americans to "hate groups" like www.stormfront.org. Not because Americans are more racist, but because there is no where else to turn. It reminds me of 1930's Germany, where the alternatives were the communists and fascists. We all know what happened after the fascist National Socialists were elected to powerr.; Reply to this comment

by leopard_colony December 18, 2010 10:13 AM EST

DREAM act is hidden in unrelated bill H.R.5281 "Removal Clarification Act of 2010". It is THIS bill that has passed both House and Senate and is in reconciliation. Once the final versions are passed it becomes law. How many congress men and women know that DREAM was added to this bill? How many are going to vote on it as a minor technical item without reading it?

You can see all of the DREAM bills listed here: http://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/legislative/b_three_sections_with_teasers/active_leg_page.htm

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by RaiseTheBarr December 18, 2010 3:24 PM EST: Thank you for pointing out this information. When you see the list, it makes one wonder, just whom can you trust?????


by leopard_colony December 18, 2010 10:02 AM EST: You can cover this live at http://www.numbersusa.tv/; Reply to this comment

by oldbasicgal December 18, 2010 9:35 AM EST

Go to Congress.org, register, and place an email to your senators and representatives against the Dream Act. Its easy, and its not too late. Cut and paste this, if you want:

Gentlemen:

Please do not allow the Dream Act to pass and kill the hopes and dreams of young citizens all across U.S. At this crisis in our economy, we cannot place this tax burden on our taxpayers, nor should we ask our young citizens to compete with millions of illegals who have broken our laws in coming to the U.S. Please respect the hard work required by our ancestors in becoming U.S. citizens, and please respect the dream of our young citizens about to step out into a hostile environment of economy. Please do not make that hostile environment worse by passing the Dream Act.

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by oldbasicgal December 18, 2010 9:37 AM EST: You put your zip code in, and the email is already formatted for sending to your state's Congressmen. PLEASE do it now.


by larrydavis4 December 18, 2010 9:13 AM EST: The Dream Act is meant to mobilize the Latino voters before the the 2012 election. More Illegals becoming American citizens create more democrats who will receive unfunded entitlements. This will encourage "new illegals" to enter the United States. The cost to taxpayers will be Billions. The losers, real American children. Let's control our borders, deport the illegal's and allow limited numbers of these immigrants who legally qualify to become American citizens.; Reply to this comment


by widow57 December 18, 2010 7:44 AM EST: If the thought of any kind of Amnesty is disgusting to you. If it is turning your back on Americans and giving away our soverignity to another country for free go here.

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageld=240045

We are being betrayed. Hope they add this and do not scrub me out.; Reply to this comment