GOP senators break with Trump over transgender troop ban

[mystery-ak]

GOP senators break with Trump over transgender troop ban
By John Bowden - 07/26/17 01:22 PM EDT

Multiple Republican senators broke with President Trump on Wednesday after he announced on Twitter than transgender troops would be banned from serving in the military.

In separate statements, GOP Sens. John McCain (Ariz.), Joni Ernst (Iowa), Richard Shelby (Ala.), and Orrin Hatch (Utah) all criticized Trump for his decision that Obama-era rules allowing transgender troops to serve would be reversed.

McCain, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, ripped the call and said that Trump shouldn't be making policy announcements via tweet.

more
http://thehill.com/policy/defense/343914-gop-senators-criticize-trump-over-transgender-troop-ban

[Free Vulcan]

A spokeswoman for Ernst told The Des Moines Register that the Iowa Republican, who is a veteran, would oppose the ban.

“[Ernst] believes what is most important is making sure service members can meet the physical training standards, and the willingness to defend our freedoms and way of life,” spokeswoman Brook Hougesen wrote. “While she believes taxpayers shouldn’t cover the costs associated with a gender reassignment surgery, Americans who are qualified and can meet the standards to serve in the military should be afforded that opportunity.”

Say it isn't so Joni.