Tom Ramstack - AHN News Correspondent

Washington, D.C., United States (AHN) - Republicans in the Senate blocked repeal of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy on gays in the military Tuesday as they delayed a vote on the 2011 Defense authorization bill.Repeal of the ban on openly gay soldiers was included in the $726 billion Defense spending bill.A vote on the bill must now wait until after the November elections.“This ain’t over,” said Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.), who sponsored a repeal of the military policy. “It’s long past time to repeal this policy.”Senators who want to repeal the gay ban voted 56-43 in favor of starting debate on the Defense bill. They needed at least 60 votes to begin the process leading to a final vote.The main purpose of the bill was to fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. It also would grant a 1.4 percent pay raise to military personnel.Like past years, members of Congress used the Defense bill as a means of tacking on other legislation they want to get approved.The “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy was part of Defense legislation enacted in 1993.Republicans, such as Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), said the policy protects the morale and “battle-effectiveness” of American troops.However, President Obama has said it should be repealed. A federal judge in California agreed recently when he ruled that bans on openly gay service members are unconstitutional.The House voted to repeal the policy last spring.The Pentagon is working on a study of how gays might be integrated into the military without reducing troop readiness and morale. President Obama has asked for the study to be delivered to him by Dec. 1.More than 13,500 military personnel have been discharged under the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.Repealing the policy remains unpopular among the Defense Department’s top brass.Gen. James Amos, Obama’s nominee to lead the Marine Corps, told the Senate Armed Services Committee Tuesday the gay ban should stay. His sentiments are shared by current Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James T. Conway.No Republicans voted for the Defense bill. Three Democrats among the 59 in the Senate broke ranks and also voted against advancing the bill.Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.), the Senate Majority Leader, said he voted against the bill only because procedural rules would then allow him to revive the bill for another vote later.By blocking any further action on the Defense bill, they also struck down an amendment that would have allowed the children of illegal immigrants to remain in the United States.The DREAM [Development, Relief and Education of Alien Minors] Act would allow children of illegal immigrants to remain in the United States if they serve at least two years in the military or complete two years of college. They must have lived in the United States for at least five years and have arrived before they were 16 years old.The bill has wide support among the Hispanic population but critics say it is an effort by its sponsors to win Latino votes and that it encourages illegal immigration