Tagged: U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly

Ahead of Memorial Day weekend, U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly, D-In., has introduced a bill to create a monument commemorating the armed service members in the first Gulf War conflict.

The legislation is being co-sponsored by Senator John Boozman, R-Az., and would authorize the government to establish the National Desert Storm and Desert Shield Memorial on federal lands within Washington, D.C.

It has been over 20 years since U.S. troops were sent into Iraq to defend the country of Kuwait, and many observers say is long overdue for a landmark.

Indiana Sen. Joe Donnelly says Syrian opposition leaders he met with last week told him they don't want American troops involved in their civil war against President Bashar Assad's forces.

The Democratic senator spoke with reporters after his weeklong trip with other senators that included a stop at Syrian refugee camps in Turkey and visits with Indiana National Guard units in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Following a number of Democrats, freshman Senator Joe Donnelly of Indiana says he now supports marriage equality for gay and lesbian couples.

The Friday announcement comes days after other Democratic senators such as Bob Casey of Pennsylvania and Tom Carper of Delaware came out in support of gay marriage. Fellow freshman Democratic Senator Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota also said she now favors same-sex unions.

A petition launched by MoveOn.org this week urged Donnelly to rethink his views, and just last week a spokesperson told WFPL the Indiana Democrat was steadfast that such unions were reserved for a man and a woman only.

From Donnelly's Facebook page:

"In recent years, our country has been involved in an important discussion on the issue of marriage equality. While serving in the House of Representatives, I had the opportunity to act on a core belief of mine: we are a stronger country when we draw on the strengths of all Americans. I voted to repeal ‘don't ask, don't tell’ and was an original supporter of the bill that would make it illegal to discriminate against someone in the workplace because of their sexual orientation.

U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly of Indiana is one of eight Democrats being encouraged to support gay marriage in a petition being touted by MoveOn.org.

The activist group points out the "last eight" have yet to come out in support the marriage equality for all couples.

Earlier this week, Democratic Senator Bob Casey of Pennsylvania announced his support for gay marriage "after much deliberation."

MoveOn is circulating a number of petitions targeting Democratic senators from Arkansas, Florida, West Virginia, South Dakota, North Dakota, Louisiana and Delaware over the issue.

"Fifty-four percent of Hoosiers oppose a ban on gay marriage," says Indiana MoveOn member Edward Cherlin, who started the Donnelly petition. "We need you to stand up publicly to the bullies and bigots along with the majority of Hoosiers in support of our friends, neighbors, co-workers, and families."