Rep Murphy (D-PA) Attempts to Repeal Ban on Gays in the Military [View All]

[HillWilliam]

FROM THE HILL -- Leading The News-
Rep. Murphy attempts to repeal military ban on gays


By Reid Wilson
Posted: 07/08/09 11:47 AM
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.

And though gay-rights groups have been critical of the Obama White House for what they see as a lack of attention, advocates of repealing the 16-year-old policy see new evidence that the administration is willing to move on reversing "Don't ask, don't tell."

The House will be a lot easier to get through than the Senate. The Senate can't seem to find its own arse with both hands and a hunting dog lately. But the fact that someone is finally making a substantive motion somewhere is hopeful.

Hats-off to Rep Patrick Murphy.