DREAM Act comes to an end in Senate

[admiralsnackbar]

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2010/12/1...in-senate.html

By William Douglas | McClatchy Newspapers

WASHINGTON — The Senate killed a bill Saturday that would've provided a conditional path to citizenship for the children of illegal immigrants in a vote that highlighted the dim prospects of getting a comprehensive overhaul of the nation's immigration laws through Congress over the next two years.
Democrats couldn't muster the 60 votes required to overcome a Republican filibuster on the Development, Relief and Education of Alien Minors Act, which the House of Representatives passed earlier this month.
The Senate's 55-41 vote broke mostly along party lines, though three Republicans — Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Robert Bennett of Utah and Richard Lugar of Indiana — voted with the Democrats.
Five Democratic senators — Mark Pryor of Arkansas, Kay Hagan of North Carolina, Ben Nelson of Nebraska and Jon Tester and Max Bacus of Montana — sided with Republicans. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., announced his opposition to the bill but missed the vote.
President Barack Obama, who promised in the 2008 presidential campaign to revamp U.S. immigration laws, called Saturday's vote "incredibly disappointing."
"A minority of senators prevented the Senate from doing what most Americans understand is best for the country," Obama said in a written statement. "There was simply no reason not to pass this important legislation."
Comprehensive immigration overhaul opponents rejoiced over the defeat of a measure that they considered an "amnesty" bill that rewarded bad behavior and a stalking horse for a liberalization of U.S. immigration laws.
"This law, at its fundamental core, is a reward for illegal activity," Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., said on the Senate floor. "This is an amnesty bill because it provides every possible benefit, including citizenship, to those who are in the country illegally."
Under the DREAM Act, illegal immigrants younger than 30, who entered the U.S. before age 16, lived here for five years without committing any serious crimes, graduated from high school and attended college or joined the military, would've been eligible for legal residency after meeting other criteria.
A study by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimated that the act would've helped 300,000 to 500,000 undo ented immigrants. However, the Federation for American Immigration Reform, which opposed the DREAM Act, estimated that it would have benefitted 2.1 million illegal immigrants.
DREAM Act supporters crammed into the Senate visitor's gallery to witness the vote. Several wore graduation caps and held hands as a Senate clerk announced the final vote tally.
Many were sobbing and hugging each other in the halls outside the Senate chamber after the vote.
"We were hopeful, we thought people were going to do the right thing, not politics," said Julieta Garibay, a 30-year-old Austin, Texas, resident whose family illegally emigrated from Mexico City when she was 12. "We're going to keep on fighting. We're more defiant than ever."
But Clarissa Martinez, director of immigration and national campaigns for the National Council of La Raza, said Saturday's vote is likely a harbinger for the future when it comes to immigration and Congress.
With Republicans taking over the House of Representatives next month and with the 2012 presidential election looming, Martinez predicted that little, if anything, will be done on immigration over the next two years.
"I think it looks tough," Martinez said. "It's going to continue to be an uphill battle."

Funny that so many in the GOP saw this as an amnesty bill for ALL illegal immigrants, when it was an effort to only absorb those illegals who are on track to become productive, tax-paying citizens (who already have the resources to pay their way through college) or soldiers we desperately need. How can the GOP pretend they're the party of business and economic savvy when they turn away the very kinds of hungry (or wealthy) potential citizens this country is desperately in need of to fire it's economic engine?

[spursncowboys]

the Dems are not interested in fixing a problem but rather buying votes at the expense of our future generation. We need a more secure border, and a response to the cartels and criminal enterprises who are molesting our border for their profit.

[Hooks]

Brown people scare me.

[jack sommerset]

Brown people scare me.

Good one, brah!

[Duff McCartney]

the Dems are not interested in fixing a problem but rather buying votes at the expense of our future generation. We need a more secure border, and a response to the cartels and criminal enterprises who are molesting our border for their profit.

How is this at the expense of our future generation? There's nothing in this bill that is directed at American citizens...only future American citizens.

[spursncowboys]

There is nothing in the bill which will fix anything, which is what I said earlier.

[DJ Mbenga]

the Dems are not interested in fixing a problem but rather buying votes at the expense of our future generation. We need a more secure border, and a response to the cartels and criminal enterprises who are molesting our border for their profit.

lol the republicans were happy to sell those votes away, they want nothing to do with latinos. although maybe something like rubio can help them. they have time to get on message but so far going against the Latinos and middle class not looking great for them.

[Crookshanks]

Illegal is illegal is illegal is illegal! I don't care if the parents brought them here when they were young - the parents broke the law, and now EVERYONE must suffer the consequences. This was amnesty - and the majority of people in this country don't want any part of it.

[Wild Cobra]

Funny that so many in the GOP saw this as an amnesty bill for ALL illegal immigrants, when it was an effort to only absorb those illegals who are on track to become productive, tax-paying citizens (who already have the resources to pay their way through college) or soldiers we desperately need. How can the GOP pretend they're the party of business and economic savvy when they turn away the very kinds of hungry (or wealthy) potential citizens this country is desperately in need of to fire it's economic engine?

Not true. If you read the clauses that allow them to become citizens, without doing anything publicized... I mean anything... you see it's just a joke!

Stop being a lemming and know what you speak of.

[Wild Cobra]

How is this at the expense of our future generation? There's nothing in this bill that is directed at American citizens...only future American citizens.

It's at the expense of our future generations because it promotes more illegal immigration. More people taking away jobs traditionally done by people entering the job field for the first time. With an ever growing supply of low wage workers, how can anyone have a bright future?

[Wild Cobra]

Illegal is illegal is illegal is illegal! I don't care if the parents brought them here when they were young - the parents broke the law, and now EVERYONE must suffer the consequences. This was amnesty - and the majority of people in this country don't want any part of it.

Agreed.

[admiralsnackbar]

Stop being a lemming and know what you speak of.

Lemming, huh? Is this the same independent, critical mind that accepted Obama's little diplomatic sleepovers cost $200M/day without question?

Why don't you walk the walk and show us how much you know about the bill instead of pretending to have the intellectual credibility on this board to play the condescending prick and be able to refute in vacant short-handed generalities?

[boutons_deux]

illegal, schmegal.

Seems like you right wingers love to apply the hard-assed, inhumane letter of the law only to blacks, browns, poor, sick people, while letting rich, white, white-collar, corrupt Euro-Americans slip-slide right on by.

[BlairForceDejuan]

Let one in. Kick one out. 300 mil deep! God Bless.

[TeyshaBlue]

This bill was important to pass because, as we all know, there is simply no way for an immigrant to obtain citizenship otherwise!

[boutons_deux]

The Repugs offer no solution, only obstruction, because they were deeply divided when they had all the power in the 2000s, and still are.

Repug businessmen pocket $Ms with cheap illegal immigrant labor and even cheating them out of wages completely.

[ducks]

The Repugs offer no solution, only obstruction, because they were deeply divided when they had all the power in the 2000s, and still are.

Repug businessmen pocket $Ms with cheap illegal immigrant labor and even cheating them out of wages completely.

how do you know if they are repu or doneys that do that cheap illegal immigrant labor


please prove a link from a conservative site and a liberal site

[boutons_deux]

Sorry, I really don't know if they are repu or doneys.

You got me there, ducks. Touche

[Duff McCartney]

It's at the expense of our future generations because it promotes more illegal immigration. More people taking away jobs traditionally done by people entering the job field for the first time. With an ever growing supply of low wage workers, how can anyone have a bright future?

Sorry but backbreaking labor intensive jobs are not traditionally done by any citizen in this country. Since the founding of the United States has there ever been a back breaking job that was strictly done by Americans? No.

You really believe that the future generations are going to want those jobs working in the fields picking fruits and vegetables? No they aren't nor will they ever take those jobs. Low wage workers are just part of the capitalist economy stop being a communist and trying to stop these capitalists from making a profit.

[boutons_deux]

lying scare-mongering from the racist/nativist xenophobes, while offering no solution or even progress, just rabble-rousing, bubba-baiting obstruction.

[Wild Cobra]

Sorry but backbreaking labor intensive jobs are not traditionally done by any citizen in this country.

Bull .

Who built the interstate systems?

Who built Hover dam?

Who were the men of steel who built skyscrapers before modern equipment?

You don't know what you are talking about. Americans have busted their asses for years.

Are you all for the pussification of America?

Yep... I see your hand raised.

Since the founding of the United States has there ever been a back breaking job that was strictly done by Americans? No.

I would say it was done by any willing worker. Not strictly Americans.

You really believe that the future generations are going to want those jobs working in the fields picking fruits and vegetables?

Hey, I did it as a child, my mother did it, her sisters did it?

What the is wrong with you thinking Americans won't work hard. Maybe it's just you generation. If so, you will be part of the cause of breaking this nations bank.

you.

No they aren't nor will they ever take those jobs. Low wage workers are just part of the capitalist economy stop being a communist and trying to stop these capitalists from making a profit.

You are a clueless idiot when it comes to some things.

What is it? Think your generation is too good for manual labor?

[Wild Cobra]

lying scare-mongering from the racist/nativist xenophobes, while offering no solution or even progress, just rabble-rousing, bubba-baiting obstruction.

That's right, too stupid to understand the reality of what I say, so call me a bigot.

Shows your utter lack of wisdom.

[TeyshaBlue]

lying scare-mongering from the racist/nativist xenophobes, while offering no solution or even progress, just rabble-rousing, bubba-baiting obstruction.

Which is a perfect descriptor for that asinine rant.

[TheSullyMonster]

Hey, I did it as a child, my mother did it, her sisters did it?

What the is wrong with you thinking Americans won't work hard. Maybe it's just you generation. If so, you will be part of the cause of breaking this nations bank.

you.

You are a clueless idiot when it comes to some things.

What is it? Think your generation is too good for manual labor?

So I wrote a lot but edited it out because of tl;dr.

But basically, I have skills and education. I'm furthering them both. I see no reason to work unskilled manual labor. I can work 1/4 the hours teaching music lessons and make the same amount of money., or make twice as much doing entry level tech jobs if I want something conventional.

Why would I work manual labor?

[Wild Cobra]

So I wrote a lot but edited it out because of tl;dr.

But basically, I have skills and education. I'm furthering them both. I see no reason to work unskilled manual labor. I can work 1/4 the hours teaching music lessons and make the same amount of money., or make twice as much doing entry level tech jobs if I want something conventional.

Why would I work manual labor?

I'm not saying you should. Point is, the whole concept that illegal aliens do the work that americans won't is shear bull , ignorance, or something else that says little about those who believe such.

It's called supply and demand. If an employer cannot find help at the wages offered, he has to raise the wages. As long as ignoramuses like yourself accept the bull of bringing in lesser paid people who are more desperate, then we will continue having a population that does not work, who could. At better wages too because of the reality of supply and demand pricing if we stopped flooding the labor pool with low skilled workers. We need more tax payers. Not more tax users.

I'm sorry, but we don't need more low skilled workers. We already have an overage of that here. We need to make them work these hard jobs, and stop subsidizing their existence if they are not willing to.