Rep Murphy (D-PA) Attempts to Repeal Ban on Gays in the Military

[HillWilliam]

FROM THE HILL -- Leading The News-
Rep. Murphy attempts to repeal military ban on gays


By Reid Wilson
Posted: 07/08/09 11:47 AM
Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-Pa.) has taken up the mantle as the chief opponent of "Don't ask, don't tell" in Congress, and he's confident the policy banning gays from serving openly in the military will get its first full committee hearing in a decade and a half this session.

Murphy, a second-term Democrat, will be lead sponsor of the Military Readiness Enhancement Act, which would repeal "Don't ask, don't tell" — a policy first passed by Congress and signed into law under President Bill Clinton.
"It's our job," Murphy said of a repeal. "This was an act of Congress in 1993 and it will take an act of Congress" to reverse it.

The measure got a subcommittee hearing last year, but Murphy says Rep. Ike Skelton (D-Mo.), the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, has promised him a full committee hearing on the bill this session.

And though gay-rights groups have been critical of the Obama White House for what they see as a lack of attention, advocates of repealing the 16-year-old policy see new evidence that the administration is willing to move on reversing "Don't ask, don't tell."

The House will be a lot easier to get through than the Senate. The Senate can't seem to find its own arse with both hands and a hunting dog lately. But the fact that someone is finally making a substantive motion somewhere is hopeful.

Hats-off to Rep Patrick Murphy.

[lebkuchen]

1. There have been several letters in Stars & Stripes demanding repeal

of the current law. Fingers crossed.

[FiveGoodMen]

2. A name I've never heard before...

Good on him!

[TheWraith]

7. Really? He was the first Iraq vet elected to Congress. nt

[GodlessBiker]

3. Go Murphy!

[pinto]

4. Good move.

:thumbsup:

[Captain Hilts]

5. He's just the guy to do it. Good on him. I wish he had Hoyer's job. nt

[TheWraith]

6. It pays to remember that "the Senate" is 100 different people.

Right now I know we've got a few Senators on board--Gillibrand and Kennedy are the major supporters at the moment, trying to drum up more Senate support behind the scenes. But like any kind of legislation, it's a slog.

[HillWilliam]

9. Gotta start somewhere

and at least we're off to a start. One battle at a time. If we can get this thing through the House with enough of a majority (and that could happen) to shame the Senate, perhaps they'll move on it.

I've been actively fighting for equality since I was 21. I just turned 52 a couple of weeks ago. It's been a long road with lots of disappointments. I'm now daring to hope, just a little bit. But just a little.

[jhain]

8. NICE!!!

Finally- some sense is seeping in...........

[starroute]

10. My Congressman -- I ought to drop him a note (n/t)

[NCarolinawoman]

11. Patrick will be on Rachel Maddow's show this evening.

I just received word of this in an e-mail sent from his website.

I sent him a small contribution a couple of weeks ago--I've been doing that since Wes Clark endorsed him back in 2006.

He calls himself a "bluedog" but he doesn't seem to totally fit: he's really good on environmental issues and health care reform.

[Duncan Grant]

12. Bio:

Great thread, HW -- thanks! :hi:


Congressman Patrick Murphy delivers remarks at the unveiling of the Bristol Borough Police and Fire Department's newly-renovated station.

Biography of Congressman Patrick J. Murphy

Congressman Patrick J. Murphy was born and raised in Northeast Philadelphia, the son of a Philadelphia Police officer and a legal secretary. Congressman Murphy is an Iraq war veteran, former West Point professor, criminal prosecutor, and proud husband and father.

Murphy started his higher education at Bucks County Community College and then went on to King's College in Wilkes-Barre. While attending King’s, Murphy decided to follow in the footsteps of his father, uncles, and brother by signing up for military service.

During his military career, Patrick served as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney in New York, a prosecutor in North Carolina, and an associate professor of Constitutional Law at West Point. When September 11th happened, Murphy went into his commander’s office and volunteered to deploy. His first deployment was to Bosnia in 2002 and the second was to Baghdad, Iraq from 2003-2004. While in Baghdad, Patrick served as a Captain in the Army's elite 82nd Airborne Division, and was later awarded the Bronze Star for Service.

After returning home, Patrick practiced law at Cozen O'Connor before running for Congress. In November 2006, Patrick won his first election and he was sworn in on January 4, 2007.

As the first Iraq war veteran elected to Congress, Congressman Murphy took on a leadership role in the debate on Iraq and Afghanistan. In his first month in Congress, Congressman Murphy introduced the Iraq War De-Escalation Act of 2007, with then Senator Barack Obama.

This bill called for the responsible withdrawal of troops with a timeline so we can refocus on the fight in Afghanistan. Congressman Murphy has also written or sponsored several bills relating to the oversight and conduct of the war. Murphy voted for increased funding for veterans and our troops. He reached across the aisle and helped bring a National Veterans Cemetery to Bucks County.

More...

Call or fax a message of appreciation re: his leadership on repealing DADT:

[phone]
Fax: [phone]

[ruggerson]

13. Tauscher was the lead sponsor on this

she just left Congress to join the administration. Good to see Murphy picking up the ball so quickly.

Now, if only Obama would actually endorse it.