Thread: Facing uphill climb, DREAM Act supporters target Senate's &q

Facing uphill climb, DREAM Act supporters target Senate's 'Most Wanted'
The Hill
By: Mike Lillis
Dec. 14, 2010

Advocates for legislation providing illegal immigrant students a way to remain in the country lawfully launched a last-minute effort this week to rally centrist senators behind the bill.

The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA) released a "most wanted" list on Tuesday targeting 10 Senate lawmakers — three Democrats and seven Republicans — in hopes of getting the DREAM Act over the finish line before the 111th Congress adjourns.

"We don't want them to be able to hide behind closed doors," NHLA Chairwoman Lillian RodrÃ*guez-López said by telephone. "We need them to let us know where they stand."

NHLA is targeting Democratic Sens. Ben Nelson (Neb.), Kay Hagan (N.C.) and Claire McCaskill (Mo), and Republican Sens. Lindsey Graham (S.C.), Richard Lugar (Ind.), Olympia Snowe (Maine), Susan Collins (Maine), George Voinovich (Ohio) and George LeMieux (Fla.).

The lawmakers have been singled out either because they've supported the DREAM Act in the past, or because the states they represent have significant Hispanic populations.

DREAM Act proponents have a tough road ahead. Although the bill passed the House last week, it faces a much steeper climb in the Senate, where a GOP filibuster will require at least 60 votes to send the bill to President Obama, who supports it.

The Senate passed the DREAM Act as part of comprehensive immigration reform in 2006, but a stand-alone measure considered a year later fell eight votes shy of the 60 needed.

At least four of the 10 senators on NHLA's list say they'll oppose the bill if it comes up in the lame-duck.

Nelson spokesman Jake Thompson, for instance, said the Nebraska Democrat — who voted in favor of the bill in 2007 — now opposes any major immigration reform until the U.S. border is secure.

Hagan's office, meanwhile, said the DREAM Act shouldn't be considered as a stand-alone bill.

“Senator Hagan is committed to achieving practical, bipartisan, comprehensive immigration reform that will secure our borders, hold employers accountable for their hiring practices, and strengthen our guest worker system," spokeswoman Sadie Weiner said in an e-mail. "Senator Hagan believes the DREAM Act should be considered in the context of comprehensive immigration reform.â€

NHLA is targeting Democratic Sens. Ben Nelson (Neb.), Kay Hagan (N.C.) and Claire McCaskill (Mo), and Republican Sens. Lindsey Graham (S.C.), Richard Lugar (Ind.),

Notice turncoat Lugar is on their list even though he will supposedly vote yes. But when I called his office today I couldn't even leave a voice message! The Schemers must be calling him to keep him in the yes column, he must also be getting a lot of locals calling against it because he is not on Numbers USA call list. I say we should call him also. He is up for re-election in 2012.

The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA) released a "most wanted" list on Tuesday targeting 10 Senate lawmakers — three Democrats and seven Republicans — in hopes of getting the DREAM Act over the finish line before the 111th Congress adjourns.

Their "Agenda" must be what that UCLA professor mentioned, replacing all the old white men in Congress. They want these current Senators to vote themselves into Extinction!!

"We don't want them to be able to hide behind closed doors," NHLA Chairwoman Lillian RodrÃ*guez-López said by telephone. "We need them to let us know where they stand."

Good luck with that. They've been hiding from their constituents, why should you be any different?

The link to the article doesn't work. This is the correct link:

http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/1336 ... ost-wanted

The dreamers have been commenting. Their favorite argument is that we are ignorant. The truth is they can't spell or write worth a darn!