WASHINGTON — Trying to salvage one of the year’s most tumultuous legislative endeavors, senators Friday introduced a new bill, with bipartisan support, that would end the “don’t ask, don’t tell” ban on gays serving openly in the military.
Initiated by Sens. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., and Susan Collins, R-Maine, a day after supporters of a repeal saw their efforts defeated for the second time this year, the new bill uses the same language that had been tucked into the defense authorization measure.
The defense bill failed in a procedural vote Thursday, which frustrated supporters who said the defeat was the result of bad timing rather than a lack of votes.
They criticized Majority Leader Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev. — who is racing through a packed legislative agenda as the congressional clock winds down — for moving prematurely. A similar attempt failed in September.
The bill Friday is a Hail Mary. Several Democratic senators are co-sponsoring the new measure. While Sens. Scott Brown, R-Mass., and Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska — key potential GOP votes — remain supportive of ending the ban, they are not expected to co-sponsor it, according to Senate aides. The aides asked their names be withheld.
Reid has promised Lieberman that he will use his power as majority leader, which allows him to bypass the committee process, and introduce the bill for a vote, aides said.
President Barack Obama wants to explore all legislative options to overturn the ban during the lame-duck session, White House aides said Friday.
