Barney Frank: Defense bill won't pass House if DADT repeal removed

[Unvanguard]

Some better news on this topic. Probably still wiser not to bet on Congressional repeal, but:

(Frank: ) And I spoke today to Pete Rouse and to Sen. Reid and Sen. Durbin and Sen. Levin , and they all agree. They want to pass the defense bill with ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ in it. They have two weeks. The question is whether Republicans filibuster it to death. But the Democrats are going to try very hard to do it. I think by the way, that’s why Gates spoke out. I am sure, nobody’s told me this, but I’m sure the president said to Harry Reid, look, we’ve got to get this done. And Reid said fine, would it be helpful if I got some military support? And eventually Gates spoke out as he did.

...

Frank: I’ve spent — I made a lot of phone calls today. Plus, one fear was I saw, oh well, they’ll take ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ back out of the defense bill. It won’t pass in the House if they do that. I believe the speaker wouldn’t allow it to come up.

Blade: Do you mean next year?

Frank: No, Boehner is not who I was talking about. The thought was that the Republicans would say if they took ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ out of the bill this year in the lame duck session they would get it passed. And my answer is that’s not going to get them anywhere because we wouldn’t pass it in the House. We will not accept — there’s been some speculation about that — and the answer is no, the House—we’re going to tell the Senate that’s not going to work. And I don’t think the Senate is planning to do that. Harry is not planning to do that.

… ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ repeal is in the defense authorization bill. What I just said was there was some suggestion that McCain would say strip that out and I’ll let you pass the defense bill. And the answer is that won’t work because the House won’t pass it.

Washington Blade interview with Barney Frank

[de novo]

1. I hope they get this done by next month. This interview gives me some hope.

[Obamanaut]

2. If the defense bill doesn't pass, does that mean the troops can come

home and the wars are over?

[jeff47]

12. No

The military gets to assume it will receive funding to maintain it's operations. So it will mean no new defense contracts, but the wars continue.

[tinymontgomery]

13. I was in when this happened a few times before

the military members won't get paid but they still have to work since they signed the contract. Normally they pass a continuing resolution to keep the pay going and everything else at the same rate.

[BlueCheese]

3. I remember when Pelosi also said...

... that the House health insurance bill would include a public option.

[Unvanguard]

4. And that ENDA would be brought to a vote, etc.

I'm not saying their words are reliable, but they count for something. They mean, at minimum, that the Democratic leadership has hardly decided to just abandon this effort.

[HughMoran]

5. 'bout time there is some positive news on this front

C'mon Congress, get this done!

[tavalon]

6. Well, at least someone is on the ball

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

7. This is how Democrats fight! With Barney and Pelosi, we can't go wrong! n.t

[David__77]

8. Pardon my cynicism. We shall see.

The cheering can start once the test is passed.

[Unvanguard]

11. Being pessimistic about this is wholly justified.

But all is not lost yet.

[BzaDem]

9. Good. Tell the Republicans in the Senate to take a hike. n/t

[Tx4obama]

10. The White House issued statement Monday evening.....

Source: Advocate

A top White House official issued a statement Monday evening saying the administration does not approve of any attempt to remove “don’t ask, don’t tell” repeal from the Defense funding bill to which it is currently attached.

“The White House opposes any effort to strip 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' from the National Defense Authorization Act,” said Dan Pfeiffer, White House Communications Director.

More here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4607197