By Mandi Rice, St. Louis Public Radio
St. Louis – Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill said that now is the right time to repeal Don't Ask Don't Tell, the policy that prevents gay soldiers from serving openly.
Republican senators blocked debate yesterday on the annual defense bill, saying the amendment to repeal DADT should be removed. They want to wait until the military finishes its study on the topic, expected later this year.
In a call with reporters, McCaskill disagreed, and said that the vote would allow a policy change this year, if that's what the military recommends.
"I think it's perfectly appropriate as we look to the next year, since the study is going to come out in December, that we would express the will of the Congress as it relates to this policy," McCaskill said.
The repeal would only go into effect if the military study finds it wouldn't hurt troop cohesiveness or morale, according to McCaskill.