Michigan Senator Carl Levin, the
chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, is considering
stripping repeal of “Don't Ask, Don't Tell” from the military's
annual budget bill, CNN reported.
Levin told reporters Tuesday that a
vote on repeal of the 1993 law that bans gay and bisexual service
members from serving openly could be considered separately from the
defense bill.
A standalone repeal measure is likely
to face greater opposition from lawmakers who generally do not wish
to appear hostile to the military.
Arizona Senator John McCain, the
ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, was first
to call for a separate vote.
On Monday, two
prominent senators, Joe Lieberman of Connecticut and Susan Collins of
Maine, asked the Pentagon to release its report on repeal earlier
than its scheduled December 1 release. The pair said several
senators were unprepared to debate the issue until they have had a
chance to read the military's findings.
Opponents of the gay ban are urging
lawmakers to consider repeal before Republicans gain control of the
House and increase their numbers in the Senate next year.