Skelton stands against lifting gay ban

[unhappycamper]

Skelton stands against lifting gay ban
By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Jan 18, 2010 14:33:51 EST

In a new complication for President Obama’s push to allow gays to serve openly in the military, the House Armed Services Committee chairman says he is “personally ... against” any change in law.

The opposition from Rep. Ike Skelton, D-Mo., is not unexpected; he played a key role in blocking the Clinton administration from lifting the military’s gay ban in 1993. What is surprising is that Skelton is ready to directly fight attempts to include a repeal of the gay ban in the 2011 defense authorization bill.

On the C-SPAN Newsmaker program, which aired Sunday, Skelton said his committee’s military personnel panel will hold one or more hearings on the issue, which would open the door for debate but would not necessarily lead to an amendment to the defense bill.

Skelton has power over the annual defense policy bill while it is before the committee, but his influence does not extend to the ability to block an amendment to the bill once it comes to the House floor. However, Skelton said he would discourage such efforts.

“We are in the midst of two major conflicts and I think that a disruption of this type could very well cause serious problems,” he said.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2010/01/military_skelton_dontask_011810w/

[rpannier]

1. Skelton wants to be Sam Nunn

Maybe he should study Arabic and/or Farsi and fill one of those badly needed linguist posts