DREAM Act Now What?

ACTION PLAN 

Stay tuned to C-SPAN2 on TV or on-line http://www.cspan.org/Watch/C-SPAN2.aspx Senate starts at 9:30am and check back for more details.  And if you haven't picked up the phone this week and called your Senators, now is the time.  Pick up the phone and call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121. A switchboard operator will connect you directly with the Senate office you request.  Please call these 10 undecided Senators and tell them to vote NO on the DREAM Act!  

Then check this list for more complete Senate targets and details.

DREAM IN THE HOUSE

The Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors bill (DREAM Act) narrowly passed in the House 216-198 with a slick series of moves by Senator Reid (D-NV) and Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD).  After 2 hours of debate on the House floor, Speaker Queen Nancy Pelosi pounded the gavel with victory and joy as she shipped the bill to the Senate with her seal of approval.  The backdoor moves by the Democrat leadership left no room for amendments or options to House Republicans.  They lost the "rules" vote and the "bill vote" itself.  8 Republicans voted with the Democrats and 11 Republicans missed the vote completely.

"Mass amnesty is not the only problem with the DREAM Act," said Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX), the ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee.  "The bill allows illegal immigrants to receive in-state tuition at public universities, placing them ahead of U.S. citizens.  The bill also is a magnet for fraud."

The DREAM Act does not provide funding to states and counties to cover the costs it imposes. Since enrollment and funding are limited at public institutions, the act’s passage will require some combination of tuition increases, tax increases to expand enrollment, or a reduction in spaces available for American citizens at these schools.  Senators need to consider the strains the DREAM Act will create and the impact of adding students to state universities and community colleges on the educational opportunities available to American citizens (including legal immigrants and foreign students here legally on visas).

"It is not being cold-hearted to acknowledge that every dollar spent on illegal immigrants is one dollar less that's spent on our own children, our own senior citizens and for all those who entered this society who played by the rules, who paid their taxes and expect their government to watch out for their needs before it bestows privileges and scarce resources on illegals," said Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA).

ON TO THE SENATE

The DREAM Act now needs just 60 votes in the Senate and presto magic, we will have a mulit-billion dollar amnesty for 2.1 million illegal young adults in this country at a time of 10% unemployment.  And by the way, the government will also allow you to be on unemployment for 3 years too, so don't worry about finding a job anytime soon. Nearly 6 million Americans looked for work in 2009 and didn't find it, for the entire year!  22 million American workers are jobless, no hope and counting.  That's not going to change. 

NOW WHAT?

The Senate schedule has the DREAM Act up first at 9:30am Thursday morning, December 9, 2010.  Having won first in the House gives options to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.   But Reid does not have to bring it to a vote tomorrow, think about it.  Now that the House of Representatives has passed the DREAM Act, the Senate must pass it in identical form before the 111th Congress adjourns, or the bill will die when the 112th Congress convenes on January 5, 2011.  

Word on Capitol Hill is that all 42 Republican Senators are standing in solidarity forcing the Democrats to first pass (1) the Bush tax cuts and (2) budget and funding for the Government first.  Let's say that Reid, President Obama and VP Biden get both of those things passed this week and early next week.  Now What?  That clears the runway for the DREAM Act vote mid-next week.  Or does Reid try to push it through Thursday morning at 11am after a short debate while spirits are high and momentum is on their side.  Reid holds all the cards, but Republicans have 42 votes (if and only if they all remain united).  Stay tuned and pick up the phone, call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121.