Monday, May 16, 2011

House panel votes to raise the bar for military ban repeal

The House Armed Services Committee has voted to complicate efforts to end the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy, adding language to a defense bill Wednesday night that would require all four service chiefs to certify their branches of the military are ready to accept gay troops. Current law requires certification by the president, secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Two other amendments in opposition to marriage equality were also approved.