Don Young is a good person to meet and to visit with. I would love the opportunity to go fishing with him sometime if he ever offered, though I doubt he would. But Young is getting Old for Alaska.
Now before you think this is an attempt by a young man to use Don Young's thirty-eight years in Congress against him, it's not. It's the fact that his votes are so out of line with Alaska and Alaska's best interest, something he likes to say he represents. Don Young has reverted more and more to voting the Republican Party line, rather than voting for Alaska's line, for the future.
Today, Don Young joined a band of reactionary Republicans in voting to repeal the Healthcare Reform that ALREADY passed the House before. This was a moment where a senior "indpendent-minded" Republican could have said, "We need to focus on the issues before us, not what is behind us." Instead, Don Young chose the party politics of Washington, D.C. over Alaska's best interest. He says the bill was unconstitutional, yet why didn't he do anything when it was decided the first time? Theres plenty of parlimentary tricks he could have employed. Even at that, he could have split the provisions of the bill and voted against the Individual Mandates and yet still voted for providing health care to those with preexisting conditions. He could have added a rider to provide more funding for rural and for native health care efforts. Instead, Don Young disappointed Alaska and turned his back on Alaska by playing the Washington, D.C. game.
Awhile back, there was a move to alleviate the American taxpayer of the tax-dollar draining provision known as Don't Ask, Don't Tell, a provision that has wasted hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars. Don Young claims he's a friend and advocate for taxpayers but rather than using that as justification to remove DADT, he voted against repeal. In fact, Lisa Murkowski could look past her partisan label and partisan leanings to do the right thing, but Don Young who talks Alaska when running for re-election every two years, par for the course votes Washington, D.C. politics once safely back in office.
Don Young has built up a mystique of invincibility to some of the political prognisticators and the press. But my question as a constitutent of the Congressman is who do you represent: Alaska or the Republican Party? This past November, a plurality of Alaska voters said no to partisan politics and yes to those who place Alaska first in the U.S. Senate. In fact, 2/3rd's did this if you combine Murkowski & McAdam's votes over the very partisan Miller. So the question must be asked, is Alaska not getting too old to deal with Young?
Congressman, you can't go forward by going back. Alaska has always moved forward. I suggest it's time to start doing that again or come home and let another Alaskan go forward with Alaska, not back with party politics!
"This is a good day," President Obama said on Wednesday to a grateful audience of approximately 500 people, including administration officials, congressmembers, former servicemembers and repeal advocates who worked 17 years to end the military's discriminatory Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy.
This is a very good day!
Watch the President's speech and the bill signing ceremony:
A full transcript with the speeches of both the President and Vice President is posted on the White House website, and an article with photos is posted on the White House Blog.
In an interview with The Advocate, Obama said, "My strong sense is [implementation] is a matter of months… Absolutely not years."
Alaskans Together for Equality sent a message to their members and supporters following the senate's historic vote to repeal the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy on Saturday. Alaskans Together is the statewide LGBT advocacy group for Alaska.
Just over an hour ago the Senate by a vote of 65 to 31 repealed the discriminatory "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. Today's vote allows lesbian, gay and bisexual people the ability to serve openly and honestly in our military. It's a wonderful step forward in our fight for full civil equality. We are extremely pleased to report that both Sen. Murkowski and Sen. Begich voted in favor of the repeal!
Your efforts made a big difference! This repeal couldn't have happened without you and your calls and emails.
Please take a moment in the next few days to call and email both Sen. Murkowski and Sen. Begich and thank them for their vote to repeal DADT. It is great to have two Senators that believe in fairness and equality in our military.
Please thank Sen. Murkowski and Sen. Begich for representing all Alaskans with their vote to repeal DADT today. Our military has become even stronger with today's vote.
Also, be aware there is still work to be done for the implementation of a full repeal of DADT. There is a 60-day waiting period, during which soldiers can still be discharged under the policy. We will post on our blog in the coming days when we have more details.
With all of our continuing efforts we are confident that we will have more victories to celebrate in 2011 on our road to achieving full civil equality in Alaska.
Let's enjoy today's victory.
Also, three Anchorage-based gay service members were interviewed by KTVA about the effects of the DADT policy and why repeal is necessary. The local troops are members of OutServe, a national network of gay and lesbian active-duty service members. (The clip was posted earlier this week, before Congress passed the stand-alone DADT repeal measure.)
The Senate voted today to repeal the military ban on openly gay and lesbian troops, following the House vote in favor of the repeal earlier this week. Both Senators Begich and Murkowski voted for repeal. Rep. Young voted against it.
Saturday morning (very early for those in Alaska watching the live broadcast), the Senate voted for cloture on the DADT repeal, voting 63-33 where they needed at least 60 votes to avoid a filibuster. The cloture vote was the main hurdle, since repeal itself needed only a simple majority to pass. After a few more hours of debate, they passed the repeal 65-31. Now it goes to the President to be signed and certified.
Please thank both Senators Begich and Murkowski for supporting all of our troops and voting to repeal this discriminatory law.
However, it is not safe for gay and lesbian troops to come out yet, as the policy will not be fully implemented for at least several months. Even after the President signs the bill, service members will remain at risk for investigation and discharge. "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" will still be the law until 60 days after the Commander-in-Chief, Secretary of Defense, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs certify that repeal can happen.
President Obama on the Senate's DADT vote:
Today, the Senate has taken an historic step toward ending a policy that undermines our national security while violating the very ideals that our brave men and women in uniform risk their lives to defend. By ending Don't Ask, Don't Tell, no longer will our nation be denied the service of thousands of patriotic Americans forced to leave the military, despite years of exemplary performance, because they happen to be gay. And no longer will many thousands more be asked to live a lie in order to serve the country they love.
As Commander-in-Chief, I am also absolutely convinced that making this change will only underscore the professionalism of our troops as the best led and best trained fighting force the world has ever known. And I join the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, as well as the overwhelming majority of service members asked by the Pentagon, in knowing that we can responsibly transition to a new policy while ensuring our military strength and readiness.
I want to thank Majority Leader Reid, Senators Lieberman and Collins and the countless others who have worked so hard to get this done. It is time to close this chapter in our history. It is time to recognize that sacrifice, valor and integrity are no more defined by sexual orientation than they are by race or gender, religion or creed. It is time to allow gay and lesbian Americans to serve their country openly. I urge the Senate to send this bill to my desk so that I can sign it into law.
The Senate also voted for cloture on the Dream Act this morning, but the motion failed to get the 60 votes needed to avoid a filibuster. Both senators from Alaska voted in favor.
The stand-alone Don't Ask Don't Tell repeal measure is set for a cloture vote in the senate on Saturday, with a final vote possible on Monday, and both of Alaska's senators have agreed to vote for it!
Senator Murkowski's spokesman Michael Brumas verified on the phone on Thursday:
"Senator Murkowski will vote in favor of DADT cloture on Saturday morning. She will also vote to repeal DADT when it comes to a vote on Monday."
The comment was made to clarify an earlier statement. A blog post titled Snowe and Murkowski Vow To Vote For DADT Repeal quoted Brumas as saying:
"Sen. Murkowski will support a stand-alone repeal of the DADT law. With the tax package out of the way, and legislation to fund the government on a glide path to passage, Sen. Murkowski will vote to move to DADT when it is brought to the floor."
That did not sound like a 'vow to vote for' this repeal measure, and a Facebook friend of Bent Alaska asked her office for an explanation. Murkowski recently expressed support for repealing DADT, but voted against cloture on the repeal last week when it was attached to the defense budget. Repeal supporters were disappointed by her no vote and want to be sure we understand her position on the current measure.
Senator Murkowski is still being pressured by opponents to vote against this repeal measure.
Please call Sen. Murkowski today, thank her for supporting all of our troops and remind her to vote for S 4023, the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell, this session: 202-224-6665 (DC office) or 877-829-6030 (AK office).
The stand-alone DADT repeal passed the House by a wide margin on Wednesday, although Rep. Young voted against it.
A few hours after the House vote, several news sites said that Sen. Murkowski "announced" support for the stand-alone DADT measure, but they didn't quote or link the announcement.
Senator Begich continues to support the repeal of DADT and voted for cloture last week.
On Thursday evening, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) unexpectedly filed cloture on the stand-alone DADT repeal passed by the House and on the DREAM Act, and announced that he will hold the cloture vote on both measures on Saturday.
Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT), who introduced the stand-alone DADT repeal, said "We can get it done by Monday, maybe Tuesday at the latest, and then go back to the START treaty."
They expect to get the 60 votes needed to stop a filibuster by Sen. McCain. Here's the breakdown, according to the Advocate: of the 58 Democratic senators, 56 are likely to vote for passage (excluding Sen. Joe Manchin, who joined the last GOP filibuster of the defense authorization bill, and Sen. Ron Wyden, who was recently diagnosed with cancer and is undergoing surgery Monday); but the support of GOP senators Susan Collins, Scott Brown, and Lisa Murkowski brings the count to 59, and most believe Sen. Olympia Snowe will also come along since she stated support for repeal though not specifically for the stand-alone bill. A few other GOP senators, such as Richard Lugar and George Voinovich, are also potential votes.
The House today passed a stand-alone bill to repeal "Don't Ask Don't Tell" by a vote of 250-175, with 15 Republicans joining 235 Democrats to end the discriminatory policy. Rep. Young voted against repeal. Now the measure goes to the Senate, where advocates will try to bring it up for a vote by the end of next week.
Sen. Begich supports repeal, although he isn't listed as a co-sponsor. News reports mention Sen. Murkowski as one of 4 senate Republicans who support repeal - but will she actually vote for repeal this time?
Call Senator Murkowski and ask her to vote for the DADT repeal: 202-224-6665 (DC) or 877-829-6030 (AK office).
After the House vote, Senator Snowe (R-Maine) said that she now supports the repeal of DADT. If she will vote for the stand-alone measure, that puts repeal within one or two votes of passing.
Sen. McCain and others opposed to gay and lesbian troops are trying to run the clock down on the session to avoid a vote, but allies are determined to see this pass before the new, more conservative Congress begins work in January.
On Friday, Senators Lieberman and Collins introduced a stand-alone bill to repeal DADT, named S 4023. As of Monday morning, there are 27 co-sponsors of the bill. Neither of Alaska's Senators are co-sponsors, even though both are on record as supporting repeal.
Please contact both Sens. Begich and Murkowski and urge them to co-sponsor S 4023, the stand-alone legislation to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski
202-224-6665 (DC) or 877-829-6030 (toll free)
Sen. Mark Begich
202-224-3004 (DC) or 877-501-6275 (toll free)
The full name of the bill is "S. 4023: A bill to provide for the repeal of the Department of Defense policy concerning homosexuality in the Armed Forces known as Don't Ask, Don't Tell." It was read into the calendar today, but will only be brought up for a vote if they have the 60 votes to avoid a filibuster.
We need Sen. Murkowski to tell Lieberman and Collins that she will vote for this!
Should all go well, we will be able to provide a nice holiday gift to the estimated 66,000 LGBT servicemembers currently serving our country.
The senate held an unexpected cloture vote today on the Don't Ask Don't Tell repeal and the defense budget, and the vote fell mostly along party lines, with 57 yes votes and 40 no votes. Although a majority voted in favor, they needed 60 votes to stop McCain's filibuster.
Alaska's senators were split - Sen. Begich voted yes as promised, but Sen. Murkowski voted no despite yesterday's statement that she supports the repeal of DADT. (The official Senate vote is HERE.)
After the vote, Senators Leiberman and Collins announced that they will introduce a separate DADT bill before the lame duck session ends, and Senator Reid agreed to bring it forward. Speaker Pelosi confirmed that the House has the votes to pass a stand-alone DADT repeal if the Senate acts before the recess.
Call Sen. Murkowski and tell her (politely) what you think of her No vote on DADT today, and encourage her to vote Yes on the stand-alone DADT repeal: (202) 224-3121 or (202) 224-666.
Rumors abound on other options for DADT, including attaching it to the 'tax cut for billionaires' bill to ensure GOP support.
LGBT bills usually wait until the 'news dump' days right before a holiday, but anything could happen in this partisan Congress. Stay tuned for updates.
President Obama's statement on today's defense budget/DADT vote:
I am extremely disappointed that yet another filibuster has prevented the Senate from moving forward with the National Defense Authorization Act. Despite having the bipartisan support of a clear majority of Senators, a minority of Senators are standing in the way of the funding upon which our troops, veterans and military families depend. This annual bill has been enacted each of the past 48 years, and our armed forces deserve nothing less this year.
A minority of Senators were willing to block this important legislation largely because they oppose the repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell.' As Commander in Chief, I have pledged to repeal this discriminatory law, a step supported by the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and informed by a comprehensive study that shows overwhelming majorities of our armed forces are prepared to serve with Americans who are openly gay or lesbian. A great majority of the American people agree. This law weakens our national security, diminishes our military readiness, and violates fundamental American principles of fairness, integrity and equality.
I want to thank Majority Leader Reid, Armed Services Committee Chairman Levin, and Senators Lieberman and Collins for all the work they have done on this bill. While today's vote was disappointing, it must not be the end of our efforts. I urge the Senate to revisit these important issues during the lame duck session.
More reactions:
OutServe
Today's vote is heartbreaking and demoralizing to all members of OutServe - and the tens of thousands of gay, lesbian, and bisexual service members who must continue to serve in silence and live a lie. No words can describe how it felt to watch our U.S. senators uphold discrimination and perpetuate the deceit and compromised integrity that consistently result under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." We had more faith in our elected officials to heed the advice of military leadership and vote against prejudice. Instead, a minority of senators have successfully blockaded the entire defense spending bill on the basis of prejudice and politics.
Servicemembers United
This was a major failure on the part of the Senate to simply do its job and pass an annual defense authorization bill. Politics prevailed over responsibility today, and now more than one million American servicemembers, including tens of thousands of gay and lesbian troops, are worse off as a result. Since the votes are there in isolation, the Senate should still consider a stand-alone bill to repeal the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' law before adjourning for the winter holidays.
SLDN
We support Sen. Lieberman's plan to move a standalone bill. We also believe another viable option is the Continuing Resolution (CR) coming over from the U.S. House of Representatives. The Senate and the President must remain in session and in Washington to find another path for repeal to get done in the lame-duck. We implore all who support repeal to join us outside the Senate tomorrow at noon.
Update: Rachel Maddow covers the DADT vote and the next possible option for repeal - the new standalone bill S 4022.
Big news on DADT: The cloture vote on the defense budget with the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell is likely to happen TONIGHT, and Sen. Lisa Murkowski released a statement today saying she will support the repeal if the amendment process is open.
But opponents are swamping Senate offices with protest calls. Please call Senator Murkowski again today and encourage her to follow through on her statement of support and vote to repeal this discriminatory law!
Senator Lisa Murkowski: (202) 224-6665 or (202) 224-3121.
"After reviewing the DOD report and the testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee by Defense Secretary Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mullen, I have concluded that it is time to repeal the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' law. We expect all who serve to serve with integrity, but under current law gay and lesbian service members may speak about their sexual orientation only at the risk of being discharged from performing the duties they have trained hard to carry out. America is the loser when it denies those who are willing to make the great sacrifices demanded of our men and women in uniform the opportunity do so on grounds of sexual orientation. I agree with Defense Secretary Gates' view that the military can successfully implement a repeal of the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' law provided that proper preparations are implemented.
"I fully understand that the repeal of this law comes with some reservations and hesitancy among the military's Service Chiefs. During their testimony last week before the Senate Arms Services Committee, each of the Chiefs expressed concerns over the timing of the repeal and a desire to ensure that the military was afforded ample time to implement service-wide training and policy reviews before a repeal went into effect. I understand their concerns about the implementation of a repeal while the country is engaged in two wars, but through their leadership and devotion to ensuring that our military remains the world's premier fighting force, I believe this policy can be successfully repealed with minimal risk to unit effectiveness. I trust that the Service Chiefs will develop and execute a plan to implement the DOD report recommendations as well as ensure that post repeal policies and regulations are addressed in such a way that the standards of military readiness and effectiveness, unit cohesion, and recruiting and retention are not negatively impacted.
"However, my support for moving the Defense Authorization bill forward, which includes a repeal of the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy, will depend on whether the majority allows for an open and fair amendment process. This is a weighty, policy-laden bill that normally takes several weeks to debate and amend. If the majority attempts to push it through allowing little or no debate or votes on amendments, I will be inclined to oppose those efforts."
