Brown votes to block DADT debate

WASHINGTON (WWLP) - Senator Scott Brown has voted to block the debate on ending the ban on gays serving openly in the military, one week after announcing he was ready to support a repeal of the ban.

The 1993, "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law bans gay troops from publicly acknowledging their sexual orientation. For years, this ban has been hotly debated, but as of right now it has been put on the back burner. Thursday’s 57-40 test vote fell three votes short of the 60 needed to advance.

Democratic Sen. John Kerry voted to allow debate on the repeal, but Brown's vote to block the repeal has caused quite a stir because he said that he would support a repeal of the federal ban if battle readiness of US troops was guaranteed. A Brown spokesperson said Thursday that the Senator said that he had been clear he would not vote to repeal the law until after the Senate votes on a tax package.

President Obama has announced a deal with Republicans to extend the Bush-era tax cuts for all Americans, which are set to expire by the end of the month. The Senate has yet to vote on the package.