House, Senate panel approve conditional "don't ask, don't tell" repeal amendment

The repeal would only happen after a military review and a presidential OK.

A Senate committee and the U.S. House have approved amendments on Thursday to the bill that would repeal the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy after certain conditions have been met. The policy previously stopped openly gay and lesbian soldiers from serving in the military.

The Senate Armed Services Committee voted 16-12 to approve the language on the repeal in the amendment, the chamber voted 239-194. A final vote on the full bill was expected Friday.

The repeal would only happen after a military review and a presidential OK.The Associated PressCodePink's Medea Benjamin demonstrates on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2010, as Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Michael Mullen testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing related to the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy.

A CNN poll seemed to suggest that Americans would approve the bill. In a CNN/Opinion Research Corp. survey that was released Tuesday, 78 percent of the public surveyed supported allowing openly gay people to serve.

Here's what's being said about the approval:

»CNN: Senate panel, House approve 'don't ask, don't tell' compromise plan

»WSJ: House votes to end military gay ban

»Los Angeles Times: Details of the measure to repeal 'don't ask, don't tell'

»New York Times: House Votes to Allow Repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ Law

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