The last best hope for a repeal of “don’t ask don’t tell” in 2010 cleared its first major hurdle this afternoon when it passed the House as expected. The final vote was 250-175.
The standalone measure to repeal DADT now proceeds to the Senate, where it faces a tougher battle with time running out on the lame duck session.
However, the legislation also got a boost in the Senate today, when Maine Republican Olympia Snowe pledged her support for repeal.
The House had already passed DADT repeal as an amendment to the Defense Authorization Act in May, but Senate Republicans derailed that measure last week.
UPDATE: Read our full story on today’s vote here.