On the recordDecember 9, 2010
It seems evident to me that, unfortunately, the majority leader is not pursuing the path we discussed, or at least that is my interpretation of what he is saying. I think that is so unfortunate. I want to vote to proceed to this bill. I was the first Republican to announce my support for the carefully constructed language in the Armed Services Committee that would repeal don't ask, don't tell. But that is not all that is in this bill. This is an enormously important bill to our troops in Afghanistan and Iraq. It authorizes a pay raise that is important to my home State. It is a vitally important bill. I just do not understand why we can't proceed along a path that will bring us to success and that will allow us to get the 60 votes to proceed, which I am willing to be one of those 60 votes. I thought we were extremely close to getting a reasonable agreement yesterday that would allow us to proceed. I was even willing to consider a proposal by the majority leader that we would start the DOD bill and then go to the tax bill, finish the tax bill, and then return to finish the DOD bill. I think there is such a clear path for us to be able to get this bill done, and I am perplexed and frustrated that this important bill is going to become a victim of politics. We should be able to do better. Senator Lieberman and I have been bargaining in good faith with the majority leader. He, too, has been creative in his approaches.
