Senate Rejects Defense Bill, 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Repeal in 57-40 Vote

The Senate has rejected S3454, the Defense Dept. appropriations bill containing a measure approving repeal of the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy by a vote of 57-40

GOP Senators Scott Brown, Olympia Snowe, Mark Kirk, Lisa Murkowski, and Democrat Joe Manchin all voted "no" on the measure. Senator Susan Collins, after leading the Republican charge against the bill, voted "yes".

The vote was preceded by an exchange between Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Collins, in which they publicly aired their inability to come to terms on an agreement to vote on the measure.