The chairman of the House Armed Services Committee says he opposes repealing the 17-year-old "don't ask, don't tell" ban on gays serving openly in the military.
Rep. Ike Skelton, D-Mo., told reporters Tuesday that he traveled throughout his congressional district over the Memorial Day recess, shortly after the House voted to repeal the ban, and the issue "just wasn't raised" by his constituents.
Skelton said he still opposes the bill because he wants troops' opinions surveyed first.
The full Senate has not voted yet on the bill.
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