In advance of historic hearing, 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell,' opponents stress patience on repeal

In a conference call held in advance of the first-ever congressional hearing on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," Rep. Ellen Tauscher (D-Calif.), the lead sponsor of a bill to repeal the law, stressed a need to not focus so much on passing the bill right away, but rather on expanding information and exposure on the topic while also opening up the debate.

"We don't believe this bill will move forward until after we have a new president in late January," Tauscher said during the July 22 teleconference, noting President Bush's reluctance to pass the bill, known as the Military Readiness and Enhancement Act (MREA).

"[There is] lots of good legislation pending that the president won't sign, and this is one that the president won't sign," Tauscher said.

Tauscher brought up a recent ABC News/Washington Post poll that revealed over 70 of Americans believe "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," should be repealed, with 75 percent favoring openly gay people being allowed to serve in the military.

Once the bill does move to the House floor, close to 218 votes will be needed in order to pass, a number Tauscher is confident they will be able to reach, from both Democratic and Republican representatives.

"I don't want to just have a show vote, I want [the bill] to succeed, it is important we do this the right way, which is to inform people on this and have a Senate companion bill and a president that will pass this," Tauscher said. MREA currently has no Senate sponsor.

The congressional oversight hearing on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," took place as Bay Windows went to press on July 23, before the House Armed Services Committee's Personnel Subcommittee. The subcommittee is chaired by Rep. Susan Davis, (D-Calif.), who is also a cosponsor of MREA. Mass. Rep. Niki Tsongas, an MREA cosponsor and personnel subcommittee member, delivered opening remarks calling "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," a "flawed and unworkable policy" that "threatens the readiness of our military by discharging hundreds of vital military personnel critical to our national security and shutting the door to thousands more." (See "Tsongas slams anti-gay military policy.")