GOP Sens. Threaten to Block Repeal

All 42 GOP senators have signed a letter from Mitch McConnell to House majority leader Harry Reid threatening to block all initiatives, including repeal of "don't ask, don't tell," if the Bush tax cuts aren't extended.

But The Washington Post's Greg Sargent says some Republican senators may not back McConnell's letter. He reports that a spokesman for Sen. Susan Collins (pictured) says she "could still vote for cloture for the Defense Authorization Bill containing repeal of DADT if ample time is allotted for floor debate and amendments."

Reads an e-mail from Collins's spokesman, Kevin Kelly:

Senator Collins has maintained that the Senate should be focused on taxes and the economy (especially since the tax provisions expire on January 1) and obviously we need to pass a bill funding the government before Friday.
These are top priorities and there is limited time.

However, she believes there is time to consider other issues as well, and she has made it clear that if the Majority Leader brings the Defense Authorization bill to the floor, for example, and allows sufficient debate and amendments, she would vote to proceed to the bill.