Posted on 12/02/2010 9:30:11 AM PST by freespirited
Senate Democrats have introduced their fifth version of the DREAM Act this year in a bid to tackle concerns from critics and win support from a handful of moderate lawmakers from both parties.
But the immigration legislation continues to draw fire from opponents and face stiff odds in the lame-duck session — and this was even before Republicans vowed Wednesday to filibuster all bills until the Senate votes to extend Bush-era tax cuts and fund the federal government.
The DREAM Act would provide a path to legalization for immigrants who were brought to the country illegally as children, if they go to college or serve in the military for at least two years.
The latest version, filed by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) late Tuesday night, would bar illegal immigrants from receiving in-state college tuition; drops the age of eligibility to 29 from 34; would not grant permanent legal status to anyone for at least 10 years; would restrict eligibility for those who commit certain misdemeanor crimes; and would limit individuals from being able to sponsor family members for U.S. citizenship, among other changes.
Those who receive conditional legal status under the DREAM Act also would be ineligible for Medicaid, food stamps and other government-funded benefits.
The new bill “simply is an effort to deal with any potential costs estimates [to] make it revenue-neutral,” said Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), the only Hispanic member of the Senate and an ardent DREAM Act advocate. “There wouldn’t be any reason for anyone to vote against it because it wouldn’t cost anything.”
Reid said he planned to file a cloture motion Tuesday night so the Senate could proceed to the DREAM Act, but that was before he and Durbin rolled out a new version. Reid spokesman Jim Manley said the earliest his boss could file cloture would be Thursday, possibly setting up a test vote next week.
“That’s still the plan,” said Durbin, the bill’s chief sponsor, when asked if Democrats were still moving forward.
Still, it’s unclear if the changes will help Reid muster the 60 votes needed to thwart a Republican filibuster. At least two moderate Democrats — Sens. Ben Nelson of Nebraska and Mark Pryor of Arkansas — have voiced opposition to previous versions of the bill, and others are still on the fence.
“I haven’t taken a position on that yet,” said freshman Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.).
Republican leaders are determined to block a lame-duck vote on the DREAM Act, with Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama telling POLITICO that “not much has changed” with the new version. As the top Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, Sessions lamented that the Senate hasn’t held a hearing on the legislation in seven years.
“I just feel strongly that American people with this election clearly expressed the view that amnesty — which this bill has by any definition of the word — should not be granted,” he said, “particularly not while we have lawlessness continuing at our borders.”
Sessions added: “We should not during this lame-duck session try to ram through this controversial legislation that is contrary to what the American people want."
Among other requirements that remained in the latest version of the bill: Immigrants must have entered the U.S. before age 16, lived in the country at least five consecutive years before the bill’s enactment; been admitted to a college or earned a high-school diploma or GED certificate.
Under the latest version, DREAM Act applicants would be ineligible if they have committed one felony or three misdemeanors; engaged in voter or marriage fraud; or abused a student visa, among other offenses.
HA!!!!!!!!!
WHO are they trying to kid???? That's what this is all about, the illegal votes!
The Dems must pass this or face some real problems in 2012. They are pulling out all the stops to get it passed. It is an amnesty for 3 million and a rolling one at that.
DREAM Act is $20 Billion Give-away to Illegal Aliens
FR Posted by epithermal
Washington D.C.- Congressman Steve King (R-IA) today issued the following statement after requesting the release of the Congressional Budget Office's (CBO) scoring of the DREAM Act.
Press reports indicate that Senate Democrats may be blocking a release of the score to cover-up the true costs of the legislation to the public.
At least one published report suggests that CBO has scored the DREAM Act, legislation which rewards a defined class of illegal aliens with amnesty, as carrying a $20 billion cost. “There are reports that Senate Democrats are covering-up an analysis showing that granting illegal aliens amnesty under the DREAM Act will cost upwards of $20 billion,” said King.
“If these reports are true, Democrats are willfully misleading Members of Congress, and the American public, about the costs of their open-borders agenda in order to secure support for their controversial amnesty legislation.”
“Since Congress may vote on the DREAM Act as early as tomorrow, I have contacted CBO’s Director, Douglas Elmendorf, to request that he release the current scoring of the bill prior to Congress voting on the matter. "
"Democrats know that the American public will not tolerate the passage of a $20 billion giveaway program for illegal aliens, and Democrats should not be allowed to conceal a score they don’t like. "
"CBO has a responsibility to ensure that Members of Congress have the information they need to make an informed vote on the legislation, and should release their current analysis of the DREAM Act immediately.”
Does anyone know how Joe “the gunslinger” Manchin plans to vote on this?
I hear he is leaning NO. Also, Lindsey Grahamnesty says he is a no on cloture.
This is a show vote. Up to 9 RATS will vote no, and at best a couple of Republicans will vote yes.
MENENDEZ ILLEGAL SUCK-UP FLOPS BIGTIME---the first sign Ohaha was fading fast
Ohaha's carefully laid plans for installing a permanent Dem Majority of amnestied illegals flopped bigtime. Ohaha was heavly invested in the 2009 NJ gubernatorial race---one of only two statewide races (w/ VA).
OBAMA WAS DESPERATE FOR NJ's CORZINE TO WIN W/ ILLEGAL VOTES--- Obama put the power of the WH machine behind Corzine.
The NY Times reported :
(a) every TV ad Corzine put on the air was being screened by Obama's WH team.
(b) Corzine's aides gave the WH daily briefings.
(c) Obama’s pollsters took over for Corzine’s polling team, and,
(d) White House operatives were on the ground for internal strategy sessions,
Vote-starved Democrats rigged the election with latino votes (so they thought)
(e) White House operatives were orchestrating obscure pep rallies with Latinos (kept secret from voters),
(f) Corzine had a "Peruvian Pac" endorsing him.
(g) Ohaha campaigned in the state three times, Biden was there twice. Ohaha TV ads ran relentlessly.
(h) Corzine promised to give illegals ‘driving credentials’ & in-state tuition.
(i) Corzine sucked up to illegal immigrants and REFUSED to enforce current immigration laws
(j)Corzine formed a Blue Ribbon committee of hypenates using tax dollars to mine votes for Corzine.
(k) Also sucking up to illegals was Sen Robert Menendez, a Corzine fellater.
OTHER SALIENT POINTS
>> Incumbent Dem Jon Corzine (the wealthy loser) outspent the Repub winner Chris Chirstie about 4-1.
>> New Jersey has a huge Democratic registration.
>> Corzine bragged he had 20,000 paid union helpers on the ground election day to get out the vote.
>> There was a third party candidate siphoning off Republican votes.
>> Corzine had the power of incumbency.
>> Corzine had the power of a crooked Democrat Machine cooking the vote.
>> Ohaha hid $17.5 BILLION stimlulus in New Jersey.....for Corzine's reelection campaign.
I am sure you meant "at worst."
“But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States.”
Much more than 3 million. Illegals fake social security numbers so why won't they fake the “requirements” for this Amnesty.Plus all get to bring in their families from the 3rd world. Remember it some government agency full of liberals/democrats who will be the deciders as to who qualifies for Amnesty.
Deport all illegals. Build a fence.
Most illegals 90% of them , vote for socialism/democrats which is why they are being imported by the millions.
This isn't about Race. Would like to know where Marco Rubio is on this.
Sen. Graham said earlier that efforts to pass THE DREAM ACT THAT RAINS $20B IN GOVT FREEBIES ON ILLEGALS -- "is going nowhere."
"How can you give citizenship to 2 million people without securing our borders first?" Graham asked.
Graham also announced he's switching from Folger's Decaf to Lipton's flow-thru tea bags.
LOL. Exactly. “At best” for Harry Reid. At worst for the rest of us.
Thanks for the correction!
““I just feel strongly that American people with this election clearly expressed the view that amnesty — which this bill has by any definition of the word — should not be granted,” he said, “particularly not while we have lawlessness continuing at our borders.”
The Cartels have been very expensive to Mexicans. There is not a good reason to improt their civil war into our country.
Is Graham up for election here soon?
What’s the line on how much is MS-13 paying per version? Or the Zetas?
Is the Vegas line in Spanish now or something?
Nope. Graham was just re-elected in 08.
AFAIK, they are being represented by La Raza.
There is no such thing as ANYTHING that Durbin & Reid support that is now or ever will be “REVENUE NEUTRAL”!!!!
Start with that premise & review all the information!!!
IF either Reid or Durbin or Pelosi or Maxine Waters or Sheila Jackson Lee of Rangle or Dingall or Max Baucus is involved-—look again at everything that you find on the topic!!
I told my daughter that I hope it crashes so Menendez’s street revolt will occur and we can set up a flag-selling stall. USA flags for 1 dollar,Mexican flags for five.We can use this for our illegal-immigration fighting group.
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