Thread: ALIPAC: Congressman Nunes explains DREAM Act vote

Staff, wire reports • December 10, 2010

The Senate on Thursday postponed until next week a vote on the DREAM Act, which would allow young immigrants brought to this country illegally as children to earn legal status if they attend college or serve in the U.S. military.

The Senate had been scheduled to vote on its version of the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act on Thursday morning. But Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., announced that he wanted to scrap the Senate version in favor of a different version passed Wednesday night by the House.

While the House passed the legislation, Devin Nunes, R-Visalia, voted against it, explaining it as a rushed, shallow effort by Democrats to pander to Hispanic voters.

"This bill was never heard in any committee," Nunes said in a telephone interview on Thursday.

According to Nunes, there were only a few minutes to look at the bill and 30 minutes of debate, with no opportunity for amendments on Wednesday before the vote.

"[Democrats are] using these children," Nunes said. "The whole process is a scam."

Nunes said that, in the four years Democrats had the majority in Congress, they never released comprehensive immigration reform.

Nunes was asked what he thought should happen to Pedro Ramirez, a student at Fresno State, president of the Associated Students Inc. and a Tulare Union High School graduate. Ramirez has admitted to being an illegal immigrant, though he's lived in the United States since age 3.

"There are probably several students like him. There are numerous children in this position all over the country. I think what needs to happen is the same thing I've been calling for forever, which is comprehensive immigration reform."

The concept of the DREAM Act makes sense, Nunes said, as does having a guest worker program for agriculture and high-tech companies.

"There are a lot of different areas that deserve consideration, but it has to be dealt with seriously," he said. "You need to have real border security so everyone knows that the border is closed down, not only to people coming across the border, but drug cartels and criminal gangs."

Wednesday's vote was the first time the House has approved the DREAM Act in the 10 years since the legislation was first introduced in early 2001.

If Reid manages to wrangle enough votes for the bill, it can go straight to President Barack Obama for his signature instead of having to go back to the House.

Reid won a 59-40 vote Thursday to table the Senate version of the bill.

The majority leader still faces an uphill battle to try to pass the legislation in the final days of the 111th Congress. Reid must get 60 votes to overcome a Republican filibuster.

Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., is leading conservative opposition to the bill, saying it would reward lawlessness and encourage more illegal immigration.

Groups opposed to illegal immigration said they will continue to rally opponents to defeat the legislation, which they denounce as amnesty.

"While some pundits, reporters and groups feel confident that amnesty will fail in the Senate, we do not share that confidence," said William Gheen, president of the Americans for Legal Immigration Political Action Committee, in a letter to supporters. "The chances amnesty will pass the Senate and become law are very high. Only a few Republicans in the Senate need to surprisingly join with the Democrats to do the deed."

i Staff writer Victor Garcia reported to this report.

http://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/articl ... M-Act-vote

quote(saying it would reward lawlessness and encourage more illegal immigration.)quote

Two excellent points and very simply the truth. Time congress stops the social changes bull and work at ways to encourage job growth, but I wont hold my breath.

Quote.........According to Nunes, there were only a few minutes to look at the bill and 30 minutes of debate, with no opportunity for amendments on Wednesday before the vote.

"[Democrats are] using these children," Nunes said. "The whole process is a scam."

No fooling?

If Reid manages to wrangle enough votes for the bill, it can go straight to President Barack Obama for his signature instead of having to go back to the House.

He's not going to allow any amendments, which would cause a delay in passage due to discussions and voting on the amendments and the amendment would have to be agreed to by the House and worked out in conference committee.

This congress has less than 25 days left to take care of business.

Dixie

I thought the last day Congress will be in session is Dec. 17th ? Isn't that the date both House & Senate agreed to ? If so this next week is it and then it is OVER Amen !!

Originally Posted by USPatriot

I thought the last day Congress will be in session is Dec. 17th ? Isn't that the date both House & Senate agreed to ? If so this next week is it and then it is OVER Amen !!

Don't forget the Christmas Eve vote on the Health Care bill. Stay vigilant and keep calling.