"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy brings up strong feelings

Intro:	A former Air Force Soldier reminds the Senate Resolution Committee that the United States won't handle gays in the military the same way as the Nazis.
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Wrap: The Senate Rules Committee heard both sides of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy Tuesday.

Former Air Force Academy graduate Beth Schissel testified in support of replacing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" with a policy that did not discriminate.

Schissel says a gay soldier is no different than any other soldier.

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Description: "We're not going to go back to Nazi Germany where the gay soldiers are going to have a star on their uniform when they're going door to door."

Sponsor of the Resolution, Kansas City Democratic Senator Jolie Justus says she doesn't think the cards are in her favor for getting the resolution passed.

Reporting from the State Capitol, I'm Rebecca Stephen.

Intro:	A Missouri Senator says he hopes his "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" resolution will pass and send a message to the federal government.
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Wrap: Carroll County Republican Senator Bill Stouffer presented his resolution urging Congress to maintain its support of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy.

He spoke to the Senate Rules Committee.

Stouffer says he wants the resolution to pass and send a message to Washington.

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Description: "To let them know we prefer to maintain the policy as is, as oppose to changing it in the middle of two conflicts."

Openly gay Senator Jolie Justus, a Kansas City Democrat, sponsors a contradicting measure and says she hopes Stouffer's doesn't pass through the Missouri Legislature.

Reporting from the State Capitol, I'm Rebecca Stephen.

Intro:	Missouri's lone openly gay state senator says she isn't optimistic about her gay rights resolution passing through the Missouri Senate.
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Wrap: Kansas City Democratic Senator Jolie Justus says Congress should change its stance on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

She presented a resolution to the Senate Rules Committee, urging Congress to do just that.

Justus says she sponsored the same resolution last year and doesn't think the cards are in her favor again this year.

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Description: "I would hope that they would vote it out, and we would have discussion on the Senate floor. Realistically, I don't see the votes stacking up in my favor right now."

On the other side of the aisle, Carroll County Senator Bill Stouffer is sponsors a contradicting measure to Justus.

One to support the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy.

Reporting from the State Capitol, I'm Rebecca Stephen.