The Hill News

One of the main backers of the Democrats' defense authorization bill said he is not optimistic a vote to bring it up Tuesday afternoon would succeed. 

Republicans and Democrats in the Senate have been deadlocked over the funding measure because of two items attached to it: a repeal of the military's ban on openly gay service members following the Pentagon's review of the policy, and the DREAM Act, legislation that would grant U.S. citizenship to certain children of illegals who entered the country before the age of 16.

"I'm not optimistic but it's not over. I am hoping that we can come to some kind of agreement," Senate Armed Services Committee member Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) said at a press conference at the Capitol.

It appears that Democrats do not have the 60 votes to overcome GOP objections to the legislation. Senate Republicans have objected to the inclusion of both items, accusing Democrats of playing politics with the defense bill.

Centrist GOP Sen. Susan Collins (Maine), despite heavy pressure from Democrats, said Tuesday she would vote against a motion to proceed to debate if Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) does not allow more amendments to be heard. Sen. George Voinovich (R-Ohio) also decided to stick with his party.

Lieberman said GOP oppositio! n to the bill is also due to the fact that it is being brought up less than two months before the November midterm elections.

"We have gotten ourselves into a thicket here, which I believe is" because of the upcoming elections, he said. "This is too important to be delayed by partisan politics."

Lieberman praised Collins, however, for voting to repeal the "Don't ask, don't tell" policy against gays in the military in a committee vote.

Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), who appeared with Lieberman, indicated that Reid might be open to more unanimous consent requests on the legislation. But he said that if the vote fails, Democrats would likely have to pivot away from the measure and bring it up in the lame-duck sessions after the midterms.