In a major victory for gay rights advocates as well as President Obama, the Senate today voted to repeal the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy banning gay men and women from serving openly in the military.
Now that the repeal bill has overcome its final hurdle in Congress, the president is expected to sign the measure into law next week, bringing to an end the 17-year-old policy and delivering Mr. Obama a victory on one of his chief campaign promises.
The Senate voted 65 to 31 to pass the repeal, after overcoming a Republican filibuster earlier in the day by a vote of 63 to 33. The House passed its version of the bill on Wednesday.
Eight Republicans joined nearly every Democrat to vote for repeal. The Republicans voting for repeal were Sens. Scott Brown (Mass.), Susan Collins (Maine), Olympia Snowe (Maine), Mark Kirk (Ill.), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), John Ensign (Nev.), Richard Burr (N.C.) and George Voinovich (Ohio).
Read More: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20026108-503544.html
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