Photo: Harry Reid At Post DADT Vote Press Conference

Via Trevor Thomas of SLDN, Harry Reid in a post vote press conference. He told reporters: "If you want to discriminate, there is no place for it in America."

Reid's official statement:

"We are on the verge of ending 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' for good. This is one of those moments in our history when we stepped up and squared our policies with the values this nation was founded upon. I applaud those Republicans who have joined us to repeal this policy, and hope that even more will join us on the right side of history when we complete our work, and end 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell.'"

"I have supported repealing this policy for many years. The Defense Department has asked Congress to promptly repeal 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell,' to prevent the policy from bouncing around in the courts. Throughout its history, our military has shown a remarkable ability to adapt to change, and our military leaders have advised us that this change is both important and necessary."

"I commend the leadership of Chairman Levin, Senator Lieberman, Senator Collins and others, whose tireless efforts to repeal this policy have helped to make this day possible."

Senate Has 61 Votes Committed to 'DADT' Repeal

Senator Scott Brown's announced support of a stand-alone bill to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" pushes support, on paper, over the 60-vote threshold, ABC News reports:

"Brown’s backing means that – on paper – supporters of the repeal have 61 senators in favor of the bill. On Wednesday Republicans Olympia Snowe of Maine and Lisa Murkowski both announced their support for the stand-alone repeal. The House passed the clean repeal on Wednesday and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has vowed to bring it to a vote in the Senate before the end of the year."

Said Reid on Wednesday night: "The time for action is now. We plan on considering the stand-alone bill to repeal 'Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell' which was sent over by the House. But let me be clear. We are very quickly running out of days in this Congress. The time for week-long negotiations on amendments and requests for days of debate is over. Republican Senators who favor repealing this discriminatory policy need to join with us now to stand against those who are trying to run out the clock on this Congress."

Americablog wants Reid to stop freaking out about "time" given the Senate's recent 3-day weekend.

Watch: Collins and Reid Air Their Grievances Before 'DADT' Vote

Here's a clip (via The Wonk Room) of the exchange between Senators Harry Reid (D-NV) and Susan Collins (R-ME) prior to moving to the failed vote on the Defense bill, in which they air their inability to come to terms on an agreement to vote on the measure.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

Greg Sargent at the Plum Line on why Reid decided to have the vote:

Reid concluded that even if Collins was sincere in her promise to vote for repeal if given the four days of debate, there was no way to prevent the proceedings from taking longer, the aide says. Reid decided that the cloture vote, the 30 hours of required post-cloture debate, and procedural tricks mounted by conservative Senators who adamantly oppose repeal would have dragged the process on far longer.

"It would have been much more than four days," the aide says. "Her suggestions were flat out unworkable given how the Senate really operates. You can talk about four days until the cows come home. That has very little meaning for Coburn and DeMint and others who have become very skilled at grinding this place to a halt."

After spending several hours thinking it over today and consulting with other members of the Dem caucus, Reid decided to push forward with the vote today, the aide says.

***

Indeed, moderate GOPers like Scott Brown and Lisa Murkowsk, who had said they supported repeal, voted No. Also, Reid couldn't be certain conservative Senators wouldn't use the proceedings to foul up the Senate, with time running out on other major priorities.

UPDATES: Dealmaking Continues on 'DADT' Vote

Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) announced this afternoon that she supports repeal of 'DADT' in a statement that read, in part:

“After reviewing the DOD report and the testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee by Defense Secretary Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mullen, I have concluded that it is time to repeal the ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ law. We expect all who serve to serve with integrity, but under current law gay and lesbian service members may speak about their sexual orientation only at the risk of being discharged from performing the duties they have trained hard to carry out. America is the loser when it denies those who are willing to make the great sacrifices demanded of our men and women in uniform the opportunity do so on grounds of sexual orientation. I agree with Defense Secretary Gates’ view that the military can successfully implement a repeal of the ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ law provided that proper preparations are implemented."

Murkowski said that her vote hinges on a GOP agreement on the amendment process.

“However, my support for moving the Defense Authorization bill forward, which includes a repeal of the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy, will depend on whether the majority allows for an open and fair amendment process. This is a weighty, policy-laden bill that normally takes several weeks to debate and amend. If the majority attempts to push it through allowing little or no debate or votes on amendments, I will be inclined to oppose those efforts.”

A vote from Murkowski places the 60-vote threshold within reach.

Earlier this afternoon, Harry Reid emerged from a Democratic caucus meeting saying he intended to bargain with Senator Susan Collins (see earlier post) with a 15 amendment deal. Whether that will happen remains to be seen. Indications are that negotiations are ongoing.

Watch Reid speak with reporters, AFTER THE JUMP...

Added Reid late this afternoon on the Senate floor: "I am working with Senator Collins, Senator Lieberman, Senator Levin & others to try and come up with some way to move forward on the defense bill, but, we'll see if that can be done."

UPDATE: The Washington Post's Jonathan Capehart adds:

"Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) told me that she is fine with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's (D-Nev.) offer of 15 amendments -- 10 for Republicans and 5 for Democrats. The only question is the time allotted to debate them. Contrary to the ham-handed efforts by Reid staffers to throw Collins under the bus, she is not demanding unlimited debate time. What she wants is a 'reasonable' amount of time. She'd be fine if Reid were to allow, say, two hours of debate (one hour for Democrats and one hour for Republicans) for each amendment. Collins told me that the time issue is important to her because she is 'trying to make sure the rights of the minority are protected.' Ain't nothing wrong with that in my view at this late hour."

PREVIOUS UPDATES...
Senate Negotiations Fast and Furious as Endgame for 'DADT' Repeal Looms [tr]
WATCH: Harry Reid Says Vote on Defense Bill, 'DADT' 'Likely' Tonight [tr] 
BREAKING: Senate Might Vote on 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Today? [tr]

WATCH: Harry Reid Says Vote on Defense Bill, 'DADT' 'Likely' Tonight

Here's an update to my earlier post.

According to Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, Majority Leader Harry Reid indicated moments ago on the Senate floor that a vote on the Defense bill and 'DADT' is likely tonight.

“And I’m likely going to move to my motion to reconsider on the Defense Authorization Act this evening. Allowing, as I will indicate at that time, time for amendments to that piece of legislation.”

SLDN released a statement:

“We expect Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will try again today to take up the defense bill that includes repeal.  Reid is actively reaching out to his Republican colleagues to reach an agreement on how to proceed.  We also know from Hill sources the President is actively working today’s vote with key Republican senators.  Today the Senate has an opportunity to make the nation’s defense funding and our service members a higher priority than tax cuts for millionaires,” said Aubrey Sarvis, U.S. Army veteran and executive director for Servicemembers Legal Defense Network."

SLDN notes a number of senators they're still watching:

Susan Collins (R-ME); --Olympia Snowe (R-ME); --Richard Lugar (R-IN); --Judd Gregg (R-NH); --Scott Brown (R-MA); --George Voinovich (R-OH); --Kit Bond (R-MO); --Lisa Murkowski (R-AK); --Mark Kirk (R-IL);

You may phone the United States Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121. A switchboard operator will connect you directly with the Senate office you request.

Watch Harry Reid speak on the Senate floor, AFTER THE JUMP...

There's Now a Snowball's Chance in Hell 'DADT' Will be Repealed

Hopes for 'DADT' repeal hit a new low this morning following Harry Reid's announcement of scheduling for the next two weeks in the Senate, in which the Defense Bill, is, at best, an afterthought, at worst, completely dead.

It's nowhere to be seen on the Senate schedule.

In the video (via americablog), after the jump, Reid lays out the schedule for now until December 17th, when the Senate adjourns. In it, there's no mention of the Defense bill, or DADT repeal. Finally, he is prodded by a colleague to say something on the Defense bill.

"Oh yeah, that."

Reid indicates that the major sticking point on the Defense bill is the amendment process. The Republicans, of course, are demanding an "open amendment process" which Reid says is a no-go. Reid says he would be open to considering some amendments if there are time agreements on those amendments.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

Meanwhile, GOP Senators are laying out new "bogus" and "arbitrary benchmarks for how long it might take to debate the Defense bill.

And would Reid extend the session into Christmas break to debate the NDAA and DADT?

Also, Kerry Eleveld has a thorough piece on where we stand at the moment. It's not good.