The LGBT community is often told that there is not the support needed to pass, or even introduce, certain pieces of legislation.Rarely are we told who needs to be persuaded to gain the needed support. When we are it is usually within days of the vote. And, because of technological constraints, this information is not up to date.
The Public Whip Count fundamentally changes the way advocacy on legislation works. It empowers the grassroots, and any citizen, to possess the knowledge necessary to organize and pressure our elected officials until enough votes are secured to introduce or pass legislation. It replaces secrecy with transparency and accountability and allows anyone who cares about LGBT equality to become an activist for full legal equality.
The most revolutionary aspect of our Public Whip Count tool is that it shares power with national organizations, the grassroots, elected officials and party leaders and allows real-time updates.
After login, you will see on the right of each row a button to edit the information.
Ask your Members or Congress or staff their position on this legislation. Indicate that you are conducting a Public Whip Count and that you know to mark their position specifically as: Sponsor, Cosponsor, Yes, Leaning Yes, Undecided, Leaning No, or No. Then indicate in the notes with whom you spoke, and if not voting Yes, the reasons. When you click save, the system will record publicly the date and your name. The contact information provided is the Washington DC office; if you click on it, it will show the website for the Member of Congress–including location of local offices and phone numbers. You can look up your Member by zip code here.
Click on any heading to sort the information.
Click on any item highlighted to see more information.
20% rating per HRC Scorecard for 110th Congress. www. HRC.org. Spoke to DC staff on 12/15/10 at 5pm. Staff said "Senator Alexander has not yet issued a statement" regarding his position.
20% rating per HRC Scorecard for 110th Congress. www. HRC.org
I just called both of my rotten GA senators. No surprise from their answers: “NO, won’t vote for it”.
"Prop 8 Trial Tracker"
As you know, in 1993, Congress passed legislation to codify the existing military “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, which governs homosexuals serving in the Armed Forces. This policy has served our nation well, and I oppose any effort to repeal it. The readiness of our Armed Forces must always be the foremost consideration in any decision regarding military personnel policies, especially as our troops are engaged in two active theaters of conflict.
The internal Pentagon review report was released on November 30, 2010, and its findings indicated that the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" would bring about limited disruption to unit cohesion and retention. I respectfully disagree with the report's findings. I will not support a repeal of the "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" policy. After speaking with military personnel and former leaders of our armed services, I remain very concerned about how repealing this policy could negatively impact unit cohesion and overall troop readiness -- especially during a time of war.
Our military has obligations around the world, including intensifying efforts to topple the Taliban and al-Qaeda in Afghanistan. I, along with many others, am concerned that a drastic change in the military’s "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" policy could hurt morale, recruitment, and retention at a time when our armed forces need to maintain a strong presence at home and abroad.
20% rating per HRC Scorecard for 110th Congress.
www. HRC.org
I just called both of my rotten GA senators. No surprise from their answers: “NO, won’t vote for it”.
"Prop 8 Trial Tracker"
Per Nebraska LGBT website, on record as opposing repeal. Did not comment for military.com news article. : http://www.newnebraska.net/showDiary.do?diaryId=2292 http://www.military.com/news/article/time-for-dont-ask-policy-to-go.html
http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2010/12/snowe-vows-support-for-dadt-repeal-improves-chances-of-senate-passage.html
From JD Smith on Facebook: "Senator Brown's office (R-MA) is telling our active duty that "Our financial problems are greater than our social problems at the moment" and will vote for repeal after the tax cut deal. Do me a favor, call his office and tell him he shouldn't put taxes over the troops. (202) 224-4543"
http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2010/12/snowe-vows-support-for-dadt-repeal-improves-chances-of-senate-passage.html
I asked if Sen Murkowski intended to vote for the bill. Reply “She absolutely supports repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell”
I asked again if she intends to vote for this bill. Reply: “If it’s an actual stand alone bill – Yes.” (from Prop 8 Trial Tracker)
http://www.washingtonblade.com/2010/05/25/bill-nelson-to-support-dont-ask-compromise/ "“Nelson will support the Levin-Lieberman Amendment,” said Dan McLaughlin, a Nelson spokesperson."
KEY VOTE - NEEDS PERSONAL CONTACT; voted for Motion to Proceed on NDAA on Dec. 9, 2010. http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2010/12/09/Senate_DADT_Vote_Fails/
The Democrats are obviously not interested in equality. We need to elect Independents and see how THAT turns out. Never before in the history of America has the government gone against the will of the people, who now favor equality.
THE PRESSURE NEEDS TO BE PUT ON SEN. HARRY REID TO BRING THE BILL TO A VOTE.
Call Democratic Senators and urge them to urge Reid to schedule the bill for vote.
PS: Sen. Scott Brown (R- Mass.) reiterated tonight that he will definitely vote for Sen. Lieberman’s “stand alone” DADT Repeal bill if and when it comes up for vote (speaking on WBZ radio). Again, it’s entirely up to SEN. HARRY REID to schedule the vote.
9/15/2010: “Ben Nelson Says DREAM Act Adoption Could Jeopardize Defense Vote”
http://senatus.wordpress.com/2010/09/15/ben-nelson-says-dream-act-adoption-could-jeopardize-defense-vote/
i think the dont ask dont tell should be brought back to be spoken about i dont think we should give up
The Democrats are obviously not interested in equality. We need to elect Independents and see how THAT turns out. Never before in the history of America has the government gone against the will of the people, who now favor equality.
Happy to say that my two California Senators have been at the forefront of this important struggle!
THE PRESSURE NEEDS TO BE PUT ON SEN. HARRY REID TO BRING THE BILL TO A VOTE.
Call Democratic Senators and urge them to urge Reid to schedule the bill for vote.
PS: Sen. Scott Brown (R- Mass.) reiterated tonight that he will definitely vote for Sen. Lieberman’s “stand alone” DADT Repeal bill if and when it comes up for vote (speaking on WBZ radio). Again, it’s entirely up to SEN. HARRY REID to schedule the vote.
It’s all up to Sen. Harry Reid to bring DADT Repeal to the floor for a vote.
Call Democratic Senators and urge them to urge Reid to schedule a vote,
and to cancel holiday recess if necessary.
This article in the Washington Post is the latest update:
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/12/harry_reid_must_schedule_vote.html