Senate Democrats Try New Route to Repealing ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (Legislative "shell" trick)

NYT ^ | 12/15/2010 | DAVID M. HERSZENHORN

[Qbert]

The debate over repealing the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy is no small item, particularly on Capitol Hill, where lawmakers have been engaged in a furious tug-of-war over the issue.

But in one respect, at least, the effort by Democrats to repeal the policy banning gay soldiers from serving openly is small business — or rather an amendment to a bill called the Enhancing Small Business Research and Innovation Act of 2009.

For procedural reasons aimed at circumnavigating some of the blocking efforts by Republicans in the Senate, the Democrats needed a legislative vehicle that the majority leader, Harry Reid of Nevada, could call up without a round of votes that could take up the better part of a week.

And using the small business measure as a legislative “shell” does the trick. The language authorizing repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell” is substituted for the language in the small business bill. And presuming it is approved by the House, it can be returned to the Senate as a privileged message making it easier for Mr. Reid to call it up.

[Qbert]

Up to the same old games they used to pass Obamacare...

[ElayneJ]

Are they saying they would attach it as a rider? It sounds like they would use the DADT text and just put a different title on it. I don’t understand.

[Freddd]

I expect it on Christmas eve...

[The_Media_never_lie]

The debate over repealing the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy is no small item, particularly on Capitol Hill, where lawmakers have been engaged in a furious tug-of-war over the issue.

Has there really been any debate? Just a liberal attempt to experiment with the military in time of war, IMHO.

[MHGinTN]

No, the original DADT law was the experiment, to see if the same degeneration of honor in the democrap party could be extended to the military, and it was.

Repealing of DADT whithout banning sexual degeneracy in the ranks is now the final assassination of honor since the DADT law was designed to make it okay to deceive fellow soldiers and officers as a means to serve for the pay, for the career perks. This final straw is designed to end the integrity of serving under oath by sweeping away a remaining vestige of moral integrity the degenerate democrats don't like.

[The_Media_never_lie]

No, the original DADT law was the experiment, to see if the same degeneration of honor in the democrap party could be extended to the military, and it was.

Exactly.

The changes proposed would necessitate endless sensitivity sessions, anti-discrimination initiatives for gays, firing of many Christian chaplains, etc. ad infititum.