DREAM Act Dream has Ended. . . For Now

By Douglas V. Gibbs

The United States Senate blocked the DREAM Act yesterday. The bill, if allowed to become law, would have created a loophole to citizenship for illegal aliens who came to the United States as children, and have completed two years of college or military service while meeting other requirements, including a criminal background check.

The need for 60 votes to move the bill out of debate failed. The vote was 55-41 in favor of the DREAM Act, effectively killing the bill for the time being.

With the Republicans gaining more seats in the Senate in January, the likelihood of the measure reaching another opportunity as this is dim. Democrats, however, have vowed to continue their pressure, either continuing to support a DREAM Act-style piece of legislation, or pressing for a wide immigration overhaul that would include similar provisions. Considering that the GOP has many in its ranks open to amnesty, the Democrats believe they may be able to gain some cooperation from Republicans during the coming year.

President Obama was a supporter of the bill, and tried to rally the Democrats around it, but not enough Democrats were willing to join the ranks of their fellow pro-amnesty liberal compadres.

Five Democrats joined the GOP in their opposition of the bill. The Democrats that voted against it were Senators Max Baucus of Montana, Kay Hagan of North Carolina, Ben Nelson of Nebraska, Mark Pryor of Arkansas and Jon Tester of Montana. If all of them had joined their fellow Democrats, the bill would have reached cloture.

Three amnesty supporting Republicans joined the ranks of Democrats in favor of the dangerous bill; Robert Bennett of Utah, Richard Lugar of Indiana, and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska.

President Obama called the results of the vote “incredibly disappointing,” but like the rest of his hard left brethren, plans to continue fighting for amnesty.

Opponents of the DREAM Act stated the bill was too broad and would grant amnesty to illegal immigrants, thereby rewarding law breakers with the objective of their crime.

Jeff Sessions, Republican Senator from Alabama, said that the government has not made any serious effort to improve security at the border, and that by refusing to seal the border, and by pushing this DREAM Act bill, “Leaders in Washington have not only tolerated lawlessness but, in fact, our policies have encouraged it. This bill is a law that at its fundamental core is a reward for illegal activity.”

-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary

Dream Act fails to advance in Senate - Los Angeles Times