Pennsylvania Representative Patrick
Murphy said Tuesday that Democrats have sufficient votes to repeal
“Don't Ask, Don't Tell,” the Washington Post reported.
Speaking to the paper, Murphy, an
ardent supporter of repeal and the lead sponsor of the repeal measure
in the House, said that by his head count the measure will sail
through the House.
“We have the votes to get this done,”
he said. “I have 192 co-sponsors [in the House] and commitments
from dozens of others.”
Murphy also said Senators Joe
Lieberman, the lead sponsor of repeal in the Senate, and Carl Levin,
chairman of the Armed Services Committee, “believe they have the
votes” in the Senate.
The Army vet's remarks come as both
sides of Congress prepare to take up key votes on repealing the
Clinton-era law that bars gay troops from serving openly.
Support from moderate Democrats in the
Senate was shored up Tuesday after President
Barrack Obama and Defense Secretary Robert Gates backed a compromise
measure that delays implementation of repeal until after a
Pentagon study is complete and Obama, Gates and Admiral Mike Mullen,
the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, agree on the policy
changes.
Supporters of repeal have captured at
least one Republican vote in the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Senator Susan Collins of Maine announced Tuesday she'll vote in favor
of repeal. The committee is expected to vote Thursday on repeal.