Sen. Byrd to Vote YES on DADT Repeal Pending 60 Day Review

Sen. Senator Robert Byrd, the last undecided vote on the Senate Armed Services Committee, says he will vote YES vote for the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" repeal compromise. But ...

The conservative West Virginia Democrat wants to include a 60-day congressional review period, reports Think Progress. "This period of time will allow the Congress, along with the American people, to thoroughly review the proposed policy recommendations," says the senator. "To ensure that these changes are consistent with the standards of military readiness, military effectiveness, unit cohesion, and recruiting and retention for our Armed Forces."

And:

"The new language will presumably send the issue back to Congress even after the results of the Defense Department review are certified by President Obama, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Joint Chiefs Chairman Mike Mullen. The full compromise now looks something like this: 1) Congress passes repeal as an attachment to the defense authorization bill, 2) once the study is completed on December 1, officials will certify that it does not undermine military effectiveness 3) once it’s certified, Congress has 60 days to “review” it before DADT is repealed. Byrd provides the 16th vote for repeal on the Senate Armed Services Committee, but under this scenario the ban won’t be eliminated until sometime in early 2011."

Byrd becomes the 16th vote in the SASC. Only 15 are needed.

So when do the discharges end? And what will happen if the next (Republican?) Congress does not approve?

Comments

[Jacob]

Well I guess i'll be joining the military after all