Lieberman, Collins seek earlier release of Pentagon 'don't ask, don't tell' report

[Tx4obama]

Source: Politico

Two influential senators who want repeal of the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy have called on the Pentagon to accelerate the release of a report examining the effects of such a sweeping change, and how it can be implemented.

On Monday, Senators Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) and Susan Collins, a Maine Republican, sent a letter (viewable here) to Defense Secretary Robert Gates, urging him to make the highly-anticipated report public “as soon as possible” to improve the chances that a conditional repeal of the ban on gays in the military – currently attached to a must-pass defense authorization bill – will become law before the clock runs out on the lame-duck session next month.

“Some of our colleagues in the Senate share our view about the importance of passing a defense bill but they are awaiting release of the working group’s report before agreeing to begin debate on the bill,” they wrote. The report, they continue, “will help inform their understanding and alleviate some concerns they may have…. Given the limited amount of time remaining in the 111th Congress, the soonest possible release of the working group’s report could therefore be instrumental in allowing the defense bill to move forward.”

President Barack Obama has vowed that “don’t ask” will be repealed on his watch, but that only Congress has the power to do it.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/blogs/joshgerstein/1110/Lieberman_Collins_seek_earlier_release_of_Pentagon_dont_ask_dont_tell_report.html

[Tx4obama]

1. And Senator Levin - see below

Levin Pressing Military To Release 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Survey

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.), chairman of the Armed Services Committee, is pressing the military to release its survey of enlisted members' opinions on repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" before its scheduled release date on December 1. "I've urged Gates to release it earlier than the end of November," Levin told reporters in the Capitol Monday, saying that his staff made the request late last week but has yet to get a response.

Full article here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/16/levin-pressing-military-t_n_784383.html