Partisan Squabbling Blocks Vote on 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'

The military appropriations bill is usually a bipartisan measure, or at least one that leads to debate on America's readiness. This year, politics seems to have intervened. Senate Democrats are accused of sending messages to the November electorate rather than doing their legislative jobs. Will failed efforts to get the DREAM Act and repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell prevent debate on military spending? What about the DISCLOSE Act? David Lightman is national correspondent for the McClatchy Newspapers.