CA GOP Rep. Hunter to Introduce Amendments to Stall DADT Repeal

So much for "jobs" and "focusing on the economy" ...

California Republican Rep. Duncan Hunter will introduce an amendment that could potentially stall the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"repeal process. Hunter's amendment will require that the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps chiefs certify that implementation of DADT repeal will not compromise military readiness

Hunter's statement:

"The four military service chiefs are far more closely connected to the day-to-day realities facing each respective service branch than those who are currently required to sign off on the repeal—including the President," said Hunter, a veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. "The President, the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs should all take part in the certification process, but excluding the service chiefs is a mistake. They may agree to move forward with the repeal or they may have other recommendations for implementation and timing. Either way, their unvarnished perspective is critical to this process—especially as it relates to preserving the military’s high rate of effectiveness."

Currently, the President, the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff are the only people required to certify that the military is ready to end DADT.

That and other potentialy harmful amendments are expected to be introduced on Wednesday, reports Chris Johnson at the Washington Blade. "Informed sources said other measures could be an outright abrogation of the repeal measure that Congress passed and Obama signed last year as opposed to merely implementing a certification expansion."

The amendment has a strong likelihood of passage in the Republican-dominated House, notes Johnson. But even if passed in the House, the formal DADT repeal certification is likely to happen before any Senate version of Hunter's amendment could be considered.

Comments

[Brien]

Of all the issues faced by the country, this is what the hate mongers are focusing on! A damn shame.

[Account Deleted]

Folks need a scapegoat and the feeling of self-righteousness.