January 28, 2011 05:08 AM UTC

Doug Lamborn Co-Sponsors DADT Repeal Repeal

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• by: Colorado Pols

The Colorado Independent’s John Tomasic:

Republican California Rep. Duncan Hunter with Colorado Rep. Doug Lamborn as cosponsor has introduced the “Restore Military Readiness Act,” which would require the chiefs of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines to independently sign off on repeal of the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy prohibiting gay Americans from serving openly in the military. Lamborn told the Colorado Independent he’s concerned that implementing the repeal, which was passed in December, could divert resources from winning the war in Afghanistan. Yet Colorado U.S. Senator Mark Udall, who spearheaded the repeal effort, told the Independent that he asked the same military branch chiefs to address these same concerns at the widely publicized hearing on the matter held at the capitol before lawmakers voted in favor of repeal…

“I’m quite sure that the chiefs themselves would not see this proposed bill as a step forward. It is, in fact, a step back,” Udall said.

Lamborn, however, a Colorado Springs conservative who has long opposed repeal of DADT, remains unconvinced.

“It is vital that Congress not interfere with our military’s ability to defend our nation and win wars,” he wrote to the Independent.

Given the strength with which the repeal of the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy passed the U.S. Senate last month, this would seem to be another House bill that’s DOA the moment it’s passed–stillborn in the Senate, and certainly no chance of being signed by the President. In fact, the real test may be whether or not it can even pass the GOP-majority House at all.

As for Lamborn, this is the guy who spends his days picking on Big Bird, and as Focus on the Family’s member of Congress he would be obliged even if he wasn’t willing–which as you can see, he is quite enthusiastically. Either way, fully in character.