There’s not much time left for Congress to pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act or start the process for repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”  So today the Human Rights Campaign and Servicemembers Legal Defense Network teamed up to launch an intensive grassroots lobbying effort in ten key states.

The groups’ “Countdown 2010″ campaign is designed to get LGBT Americans and their allies to write, call or e-mail members of Congress in Arkansas, Indiana, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Virginia.

“We need supporters to contact their senators and tell them to repeal ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ and follow the lead of Chairman Carl Levin who will be managing the defense bill on the floor.  It is critical that we beat back any filibuster threat, defeat attempts to strike repeal, and defeat any crippling amendments.  Senators need to hear from us now, especially in the 10 key states where our combined SLDN and HRC field teams are working now,” said Aubrey Sarvis, executive director at SLDN.

ENDA faces significant hurdles in the U.S. Senate, but some believe that House passage of the bill could spur action across the Capitol.

For more information about the campaign, visit HRC Back Story.  And here’s how you can get involved.

Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., who chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee, told reporters this morning he does not believe opponents have the votes to stop the Senate from passing a bill that contains “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal language, according to Talking Points Memo:

Levin (D-MI) predicted a filibuster over the Defense Authorization measure over the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell repeal would be highly unlikely this fall. He said he doubts senators who oppose the repeal would block legislation that also approves funding for troops and military benefits, especially since the repeal language is something that can be handled procedurally with a “move to strike” it from the authorization.

Levin said even that isn’t going to fly since Congress is taking what he considers to be a “pretty cautious approach” with the repeal effort. “The votes would not be there to strike that.”

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., had earlier vowed to do everything in his power to stop the Senate from voting to begin the repeal process.  The language passed by the House and added to the defense authorization bill in the Senate would implement repeal only after sign off from the president and the Pentagon.

U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., has told the Washington Blade he’s unlikely to back a filibuster of a defense bill containing language establishing a repeal process for the military’s ban on openly gay troops.  Lugar’s reluctance to stand with repeal opponents will make it difficult for them to keep the bill from coming to a vote.

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., earlier issued a threat to block the entire bill over the issue.  ”I’ll do everything in my power,” McCain told Roll Call in late May.

Aubrey Sarvis, executive director of Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, told the Blade Lugar’s comments were “good news,” but there are other threats to the repeal language.  Senators could offer a motion to strike the language, but it’s unclear whether that would succeed.  Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., the only Democrat to oppose the repeal amendment in the Senate Armed Services Committee, has not said whether he would support a filibuster or a motion to strike.

Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., who chairs the Armed Services Committee, said he hopes the full Senate will vote on the bill this month.

A U.S. District Court judge in Riverside, Calif., has agreed to hear a constitutional case brought by Log Cabin Republicans against the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy.

Lawyers from President Barack Obama’s Justice Department will now be in the awkward position of having to defend the constitutionality of the policy, even though the president himself is opposed to it, according to the Associated Press.

The hearing is set for July 13.  For news about developments in the case, visit this page at the Log Cabin Republicans Web site.

U.S. Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan told the Senate Judiciary Committee this morning that Pentagon recruiters had access to Harvard Law School students throughout her time as dean there.  Even when the school’s non-discrimination policy required that she block recruiters from access to the campus career services office, Kagan said she encouraged veterans groups at the school to facilitate the military’s access to HLS students, the Associated Press reported.

Kagan is expected to be pressed on the military recruiting issue throughout her confirmation hearing.