Minnesota Independent

Walz speaks out on Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell

By Andy Birkey | 12.15.10 | 4:43 pm

Rep. Tim Walz, the highest ranking enlisted soldier to ever serve in Congress, spoke on the House floor on Wednesday urging his colleagues to pass a repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. Walz said that comments from Republicans that soldiers on the ground could not handle serving with fellow gay and lesbian soldiers were offensive. The House voted on Wednesday evening to repeal the law which prohibits gays and lesbians from serving openly in all branches of the military 250 to 175.

Franken, Klobuchar, Madia press for DADT repeal

By Andy Birkey | 11.19.10 | 11:31 am

Sens. Al Franken and Amy Klobuchar pushed for a repeal of the military’s ban on openly serving gays and lesbians on Thursday and urged the U.S. Senate to pass a defense authorization bill that contains a repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell.” At the same time, former congressional candidate Ashwin Madia is using his new position as head of VoteVets to get a ban passed during the lame duck session.

Reid Delays Vote On Offshore Drilling Reforms

Lame duck preview: The last hurrah for a Democratic Congress

By Staff Report | 11.15.10 | 8:42 am

Congress returns to the nation’s capital Monday to kick off its lame-duck session. Here’s a rundown of the legislative battles to come.

Franken urges Obama administration not to appeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell repeal

By Andy Birkey | 10.13.10 | 1:00 pm

Sen. Al Franken is urging Attorney General Eric Holder not to appeal a United States District Court decision on Tuesday that ruled the military’s ban on openly serving gay and lesbian servicemembers unconsitutional. In a letter, signed with 18 other senators, Franken wrote that Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell “not only weakens our military, but neither is it an effective use of our government resources or taxpayer monies.”

Al Franken speaks out on Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell repeal

By Andy Birkey | 09.22.10 | 10:29 am

Sen. Al Franken gave a passionate speech about allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military on Tuesday afternoon. Franken, who has performed at a number of USO shows for troops throughout the years, got choked up…

Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell ruled unconstitutional

By Andy Birkey | 09.10.10 | 6:29 am

The military’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy — which bars openly gay men and women from serving in the military — was ruled unconstitutional by a judge in Riverside, Calif., Thursday evening. The suit, brought by the Log Cabin Republicans, argued that the policy violated the First and Fifth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution, and the judge agreed, ordering a permanent injunction against the policy. The Department of Justice has seven days to appeal the ruling.

Bachmann, Walz, Meffert speak out on DADT repeal

By Andy Birkey | 05.28.10 | 9:11 am

On Thursday evening, the U.S. House passed an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act that would repeal the military’s ban on openly serving gays and lesbians. Rep. Michele Bachmann voted against the amendment, saying Don’t Ask,…

After acknowledging lack of authority on policy, Pawlenty lobbies against DADT repeal

By Andy Birkey | 05.27.10 | 2:37 pm

With Congress set to vote on whether to eventually repeal the military’s ban on openly gay and lesbian servicemembers, Minnesota’s politicians are weighing in on the issue. For Gov. Tim Pawlenty…

Minnesota gay groups give Franken high marks

By Andy Birkey | 03.19.10 | 10:55 am

Sen. Al Franken met on Thursday with leaders from several of Minnesota LGBT advocacy organizations, who “applauded” Franken’s work on LGBT issues, including his work towards repealing the military’s ban on openly gay and lesbian servicemembers and his…

Ellison, Walz cosponsor bill to protect troops testifying against ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’

By Andy Birkey | 12.04.09 | 2:52 pm

As Congress, and the nation, debate the role that gays and lesbians play in the military, some Congress members are trying to protect those that testify about “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” by making that testimony immune from military scrutiny.…