Rep. Murphy attempts to repeal military ban on gays

[Lone_Star_Dem]

Source: The Hill

Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-Pa.) has taken up the mantle as the chief opponent of "Don't ask, don't tell" in Congress, and he's confident the policy banning gays from serving openly in the military will get its first full committee hearing in a decade and a half this session.

Murphy, a second-term Democrat, will be lead sponsor of the Military Readiness Enhancement Act, which would repeal "Don't ask, don't tell" — a policy first passed by Congress and signed into law under President Bill Clinton.

"It's our job," Murphy said of a repeal. "This was an act of Congress in 1993 and it will take an act of Congress" to reverse it.

The measure got a subcommittee hearing last year, but Murphy says Rep. Ike Skelton (D-Mo.), the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, has promised him a full committee hearing on the bill this session.



Read more: http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/rep.-murphy-launches-effort-to-repeal-military-ban-on-gays-2009-07-08.html

[BOSSHOG]

1. And what will the committee hearing uncover?

That there are dumbass's with conservative values in congress who have never served in the military but who hate gays (for no apparent reason.) Fuck the hearings, do away with the dumbass policy.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

2. Right now it is stuck in committee

This actually may get it out to be voted on. Also, the possibility of a parallel Senate bill is a very good sign.

[Turbineguy]

3. The power of a secret lies in its secrecy.

By making "being gay" a non-issue, most if not all problems related to security/blackmail risks go away.

This question was brought up to a friend of mine by a military officer. "How does the Merchant Marine deal with Gays?" The answer is, we don't. There is only one qualifying factor on a vessel with a skeleton crew (18-21 people): how well you do your job. How you cut your hair, if you slurp your soup, or what you do in your spare time are non-issues.

[HillWilliam]

4. Here's a link to the post

in the GLBT forum.

[Freddie Stubbs]

5. "This session"

Each Congress has two sessions, each lasting a year. That means that the hearing will be THIS year.

But, that does not mean that the committee will actually act on the bill. They may simple hold a hearing and take testimony, but never actually vote on it.

[NCarolinawoman]

6. Patrick Murphy will be appearing on Rachel Maddow's show this evening...

just got an e-mail from his website.

[Vidar]

7. Good for Murphy.