Frank: Committee Vote Irrelevant to DADT

Frank: Committee Vote Irrelevant to DADT

Rep. Barney Frank broke with the conventional wisdom of many Washington insiders Tuesday telling The Advocate that “don’t ask, don’t tell” repeal doesn’t necessarily stand a better chance if it is incorporated in the budget recommendations sent from the Pentagon to Congress this spring.

“I do not think it matters what the Pentagon says,” said Frank. “We will get the votes without it, I think.”

Some strategists have suggested that repeal stands a better chance if the Defense Department includes the policy change in its budget recommendations, which would in turn make it more likely that the House and Senate Armed Services Committees would fold it into the fiscal year 2011 Defense authorization bill.

Frank countered, "People should not be worried about whether it’s done in committee or not. That is a procedural detail that will have no effect on the final outcome."

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