‘Don’t ask’ repeal dies in Senate

The repeal of the military's ban on openly gay service was defeated today after a deal between GOP Maine Sen. Susan Collins and Democratic Majority Leader Harry Reid broke down publicly on the Senate floor.

"I'm perplexed and frustrated that this particular bill is going to become a victim of politics," Collins said on the floor, after Reid would not agree to four days of debate on the bill and to allow Republicans to offer 10 of their own amendments.

Collins still voted yes to begin debate on the defense authorization bill. But GOP Sens. Scott Brown and Lisa Murkowski, who indicated they would vote for the bill if Reid agreed to Collins' plan, voted no. Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin also voted against debate, leaving only 57 senators who voted for debate, three shy of the 60 needed to prevent a Republican filibuster. (UPDATE: Independent Sen. Joe Lieberman says he will introduce a stand-alone bill to repeal "Don't ask" this year.)

Reid was most likely worried that an open amendment process could result in one GOP member indefinitely stalling the vote as the lame-duck session draws to a close. He mentioned on the floor that Senate Republicans would refuse to vote for the bill until a tax-cut deal had been passed.

Gay-rights groups will pressure the president to take executive action to end the policy, the Washington Post reports.

(Gay-rights protesters chain themselves to the White House fence: AP)