GOP senator’s heated objection delays defense policy bill

Senate Armed Services Chairman Carl Levin failed to gain unanimous consent Thursday to bring up the fiscal 2011 defense authorization bill when the Senate returns to Washington in September.

Sen. John McCain, the top Republican on the committee, vigorously objected to the unanimous consent request, saying he opposed several provisions in the bill, including one that would repeal the 1993 law banning openly gay individuals from serving in the military.

During a brief interview before introducing his unanimous consent request, Levin acknowledged Republican opposition to calling up the measure but said he still is "very hopeful" that the Senate will complete work on it by the end of September.

Levin said he is confident he has enough votes to overcome any possible filibuster during floor debate. But he also acknowledged he is worried about the chamber's crowded legislative calendar next month.

"It's the matter of time, it's not the matter of votes," Levin said, emphasizing that two Republicans on his committee voted in favor of the legislation when it was marked up in May. "It's a matter of how much time it would take. That's what the leader has to grapple with."

The authorization bill, which authorizes Pentagon funding levels and sets policy, typically consumes more than a week of floor time. The Senate is expected to only be in session for three weeks before senators head home for the midterm elections.

"Until this bill is passed, I am concerned. But we've never not passed the defense bill," Levin said. "It's hard to believe in the middle of two wars that we're not going to take up the defense bill. I can't believe it and I won't believe it until I see it. And I hope I don't see it."

McCain argued on the Senate floor against taking any steps to repeal the 1993 "don't ask, don't tell" law before the Pentagon completes an in-depth review on how to implement the repeal and what impact it would have on the force.

Levin and others have stressed that the language in the bill would not lift the ban until after the Pentagon completes its review and certifies that a change in policy will not harm military readiness or hurt unit cohesion.

McCain spoke out against a provision authorizing military hospitals to perform elective abortions if the procedure is paid for by private funds. Current law allows abortions at military hospitals only to save the life of the mother or in the instances of rape or incest.

"It's a terrible piece of legislation ram-rodded through," said McCain, who accused Levin of "moving forward with a social agenda" on a national security bill.

"The place to debate these policies is on the floor of the Senate," Levin countered.