Gays in military called settled issue

By Donna Cassata, Associated Press
Posted: June 22, 2012

WASHINGTON - The Republican chairman of the House Armed Services Committee said Thursday that allowing gays to serve openly in the military is a settled issue that he will not try to reverse even if Mitt Romney wins the presidency in November and the GOP captures the Senate.

Rep. Howard "Buck" McKeon of California said his focus is on restoring money for the military after the latest round of defense cuts - a planned reduction of $487 billion over 10 years that could nearly double if Congress fails to avert automatic, across-the-board cuts that begin in January.

Pressed on the divisive issue of gay rights that roiled Congress two years ago, McKeon said he would not revisit it.

"We fought that fight," McKeon told reporters at an hour-long breakfast interview. He said his goal is to "get the things that our war-fighters need."

The committee chairman said other GOP lawmakers might try to reinstate the "don't ask, don't tell policy" that was in effect for nearly two decades.

"That's not something that I would personally bring up," he said.

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