Bill might delay end of 'don't ask'

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WASHINGTON, Jan. 19 (UPI) -- A bill that might delay the ending of the U.S. military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy on gays was introduced Wednesday by Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif.

The measure, which appears unlikely to get to a vote in the Senate, would require the four chiefs of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines to sign off on allowing openly gay service members, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported.

Hunter, whose father, former Rep. Duncan Hunter, served in the Army in Vietnam, was a Marine who was deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. He named his bill the Restore Military Readiness Act.

"The idea behind the Restore Military Readiness Act is not necessarily to prevent the implementation of the DADT repeal, but rather to ensure that military readiness and combat effectiveness are not adversely impacted," Hunter said.

"Given that the service chiefs carry most of the day-to-day responsibilities for each service branch, their independent certification is just as important and equally necessary."

The bill is likely to win easy passage in the Republican-controlled House.