in other years the time frame is even shorter. according to democratic congressional staffers who crunched the numbers, since 1990 there have only been four other occasions where passing a defense authorization has taken more than a week. norman ornstein agrees, adding that on occasion such bills have been adopted after just a day or two. so keeping them honest, lawmakers are free to support or oppose as they see fit on the merits of it but to say they don t have enough time to consider it, that doesn t wash. what s more, although the senate does adjourn on the 17th, there s no reason it has to. senators passed health care reform on christmas eve last year. most americans work basically up until christmas eve. this year a number of senators who support ending don t ask don t tell want to extend the session again. among them is independent senator joe lieberman of connecticut. we spoke earlier tonight. senator lieberman, senate republicans say there needs to be a two-week minimum on t
reform on christmas eve last year. most americans work basically up until christmas eve. this year a number of senators who support ending don t ask don t tell want to extend the session again. among them is independent senator joe lieberman of connecticut. we spoke earlier tonight. senator lieberman, senate republicans say there needs to be a two-week minimum on the bill, even though they re typically passed in a number of days. are they just trying to run out the clock on don t ask, don t tell? it sure looks like that to me. i don t make that i don t reach that conclusion lightly. but we ve got the time to take up the underlying defense bill, which is very important to our military. it authorizes pay increases and equipment to protect our troops, better housing for their families back home. that bill has been passed in every congress since the 60s. and for opponents of don t ask, don t tell being repeopled to hold up that bill because
norman ornstein agrees, adding that on occasion such bills have been adopted after just a day or two. so keeping them honest, lawmakers are free to support or oppose repealing don t ask don t tell as they see fit on the merits of it, but to say they don t have enough time to consider it, that doesn t wash. what s more, although the senate does adjourn on the 17th, there s no reason it has to. senators passed health care reform on christmas eve last year. most americans work basically up until christmas eve. this year a number of senators who support ending don t ask don t tell want to extend the session again. among them is independent senator joe lieberman of connecticut. we spoke earlier tonight. senator lieberman, senate republicans say there needs to be weeks of debate. are they just trying to run out the clock on don t ask, don t tell? it sure looks like that to me. i don t make that i don t reach that conclusion lightly.
so keeping them honest, lawmakers are free to support or oppose as they see fit on the merits of it but to say they don t have enough time to consider it, that doesn t wash. what s more, although the senate does adjourn on the 17th, there s no reason it has to. senators passed health care reform on christmas eve last year. most americans work basically up until christmas eve. this year a number of senators who support ending don t ask don t tell want to extend the session again. among them is independent senator joe lieberman of connecticut. we spoke earlier tonight. senator lieberman, senate republicans say there needs to be a two-week minimum on the bill, even though they re typically passed in a number of days. are they just trying to run out the clock on don t ask, don t tell? it sure looks like that to me. i don t make that i don t reach that conclusion lightly. but we ve got the time to take up the underlying defense bill, which is very important to our military. it authori
senate bill 1390, taken up on july 13th. considered 340 amendments and passed it ten days later. that s actually unusually long. in other years the time frame is even shorter. according to democratic congressional staffers who crunched the numbers, since 1990 there have only been four other occasions where passing a defense reauthorization has taken more than a week. norman ornstein agrees, adding that on occasion such bills have been adopted after just a day or two. so keeping them honest, lawmakers are free to support or oppose repealing don t ask don t tell as they see fit on the merits of it, but to say they don t have enough time to consider it, that doesn t wash. what s more, although the senate does adjourn on the 17th, there s no reason it has to. senators passed health care reform on christmas eve last year. most americans work basically up until christmas eve. this year a number of senators who support ending don t ask don t tell want to extend the session again. among them i