Senate Poised for DREAM Act Showdown Today

[pampango]

Source: ColorLines

The DREAM Act is poised to reach the Senate floor today in what is shaping up as a dramatic political standoff between Republicans and Democrats. After almost a decade of activism, the bill must now survive a motion for cloture on the defense authorization bill that is scheduled for 2:15 p.m. ET.

Last week, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid sent a jolt through the immigration world when he announced he would be introducing the DREAM Act and a “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal as amendments to the $725 billion defense authorization bill. Before those issues can be taken up as separate amendments, the Senate must agree to close debate on the larger defense bill.

Republicans like Sens. John McCain, Orrin Hatch, and Mitch McConnell have promised to block that procedural step and thereby launch a filibuster the defense bill today. Last week, South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, a Republican who for decades carved out a professional reputation as a moderate, tag-teamed outrage with McCain on the Senate floor. They charge that Reid proposed the two bills in what everyone acknowledges is a political move to shore up Democrats’ support back in Nevada, where Reid faces a tough reelection campaign.

After a week of round the clock activism, DREAM Act watchers still are not certain if the defense bill has 60 votes to pass cloture today; they are banking on at least 55 votes, but many are still up in the air. Yesterday, the Hill reported that five Democrats who have previously opposed the DREAM Act had yet to make up their mind on which way they’ll vote today.

Read more: http://colorlines.com/archives/2010/09/fate_of_dream_act.html

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DADT and the Dream Act are both on the Senate's agenda for today. The repubs may have enough votes to filibuster the defense bill, but I hope we make them filibuster long and loud so they can cook their own goose.

[old mark]

1. The GOP finally found somethng they can support - hate. I hope the Dems show up

with their spines strapped on this time, and jam it through.

C'mon Harry, you can do it!

mark

[sinkingfeeling]

2. Called Sen. Pryor's office and asked that he support DREAM.

[COLGATE4]

3. HATE 2010 - the only thing Rethuglicans have to offer.

Sad bunch of losers, starting with senile Orrin and McLame and Mitch the Bitch. May they all rot in hell.

[South End Liberal]

4. Immigration reform does not belong in a defense bill.

Immigration reform needs to be dealt with, but as an immigration reform bill, not slipping it into a defense bill.

No wonder Congress has such huge negative ratings.

[peachykeen]

5. Why would something like that show up in a defense bill?

[thetonka]

6. Because hiding something in a popular bill

is an easy way to pass something that is not popular.

[alp227]

7. Haha not everything that's right is popular.

I mean, the DREAM Act is not popular, but then facts are often not popular either...I mean most Americans can't name the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court or find Iraq on a map, and the politicians who oppose DREAM always mis-characterize it as amnesty (yeah right, college surely ain't easy, and did they even READ the bill, and a conservative Republican started the DREAM Act).

[thetonka]

8. Regardless of whether a bill is right or wrong

all should have to stand on their own. If the representatives can not explain to the people why a bill is right or beneficial, the representatives fail.

[Cid_B]

9. We hear so much about optics recently...

... and the way the "optics" look... it seems like the current leadership is trying to sneak in something the majority of the population would not support.

People are becoming more aware recent years and especially after the HCR fiasco they are more aware about laws being passed that are not wanted.

[thetonka]

17. IMHO HCR popularity was not there because

the leaders and support in DC refused to be honest and open about it. Unfortunately in many cases those voting didn't even know what it was.

Would have help considerably in the popularity if our representatives read and understood the legislation and then explained what it was and why it was good(or bad) to the people they are supposed to be representing.

[Tx4obama]

13. Because the DREAM Act allows non-citizens join the military & fast tracks citizenship. n/t

[Tx4obama]

11. It is in there because it has to do WITH the military...

The DREAM Act allows the non-citizen kids to join the military and fast tracks them to get citizenship.

[mcollins]

14. They already can, can't they?

I mean there is always some news story about a military member getting their citizenship.

[Tx4obama]

15. With the DREAM Act they get a green card & a quicker road to citizenship. n/t

[Tx4obama]

16. Here ya go... a full explanation

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/9/14/901904/-DREAM-Act-will-get-a-vote-in-defense-authorization-bill

Excerpt:

Update: If you're wondering what the DREAM Act has to do with Defense Authorization, the Wonk Room has the answer:

In fact, the DREAM Act is included in the Department of Defense’s FY2010-12 Strategic Plan to help the military "shape and maintain a mission-ready All Volunteer Force"....

That’s because a specific provision of the DREAM Act would allow those who meet all eligibility requirements, serve in the U.S. armed forces for at least two years and maintain "good moral character" to obtain regular lawful permanent resident status after six years. Many Military experts have come out in support of the DREAM Act because it would significantly increase the pool of qualified recruits in the Latino population, which comprises the majority of undocumented immigrants and which research indicates are more likely to enlist and serve in the military than any other group.

[totodeinhere]

10. I'm afraid we might go 0 for 2 today.

DADT already failed today, and I'm not optimistic about the Dream Act either. Too many so-called moderate Democrats are running scared in advance of the election rather than standing up for what is right and showing leadership. It's sad.

[Tx4obama]

12. There is only ONE bill being voted on, the Defense bill - DADT & DREAM Act are both in there n/t

[totodeinhere]

18. Sorry you are correct.

But my point still stands. We lost both DADT and the Dream Act. It was not a good day. And if the GOP picks up a few more Senate seats in November, which is quite possible, it will be even harder to get things like this through. It sucks.

[Tx4obama]

19. No. The only thing they were to vote on was 'cloture' on the Defense Appropriations Bill.

The DREAM Act and DADT were in the main Defense Appropriations bill.
Only 'one' vote to vote for cloture on the WHOLE bill.
There won't be any individual votes on any proposed amendments until after cloture has passed with 60 votes.

[Tx4obama]

20. Not really. We haven't lost anything yet.

Reid voted 'no' today so that he can bring the whole Defense Appropriations bill back to the senate floor for another vote.
As it stands now, DADT and the DREAM Act is still in there with all the rest of everything else.

Btw, the weren't really voting for or against the bill today.
They were voting on 'cloture' which is what would have pushed the bill forward for debate.

[totodeinhere]

21. Yes, of course, the final bill was not defeated on a roll call vote.

The GOP used a filibuster to prevent the bill from being taken up. But if they can continue to prevent it then as you know that would be tantamount to a defeat. Reid had better try to get this through the lame duck session or it might be dead for the foreseeable future.

And if the GOP picks up a few seats then it will be very hard to even get it through a lame duck session. Usually when a party gains seats it will fight and scratch like crazy to keep anything controversial from being voted on in a lame duck session knowing that they will be in a better position in the new session. So I am not optimistic.