Thread: Key Dem senators not ruling out yes votes on DREAM Act

Key Dem senators not ruling out yes votes on DREAM Act
By J. Taylor Rushing - 09/20/10 06:00 AM ET

Senate Democrats who blocked an immigration bill in 2007 say they are undecided on how to vote on the measure this week.

Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) plans to attach the controversial DREAM Act to the defense authorization bill. But it’s unclear if it can attract 60 votes.




The DREAM Act, introduced by Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), would grant U.S. citizenship to certain children of illegal immigrants who came to the country before the age of 16.

Democrats helped block the bill three years ago when it fell eight votes short on a procedural motion. While some Republicans supported that motion, eight Democrats voted no, including the late Sen. Robert Byrd (W.Va.) and Sens. Max Baucus (Mont.), Mary Landrieu (La.), Mark Pryor (Ark.), Kent Conrad (N.D.), Claire McCaskill (Mo.), Jon Tester (Mont.) and Byron Dorgan (N.D.).

Five of those senators — Conrad, Dorgan, McCaskill, Pryor and Landrieu — told The Hill they haven’t made up their minds about this week’s vote.

“It’s not one of the things I’m focused on right now, but at the appropriate time I will review it,â€

Please everyone, keep calling, especially the undecideds.

There is one piece of good news. Sen. Burris has attached and abortion amendment to the Defense bIll to allow abortions in US Army medical facilities when paid for by the person undergoing the abortion.

That alone should guarantee that they do not have 60 votes to break a filibutser.

I would bet that the Defense authorization bill will get done ONLY in the Lame Duck Congress. Too many amendements which have nothing to do with defense should make it very diffcult to overcome a filibuster.

The Lame Duck is another story.

Originally Posted by judyweller

There is one piece of good news. Sen. Burris has attached and abortion amendment to the Defense bIll to allow abortions in US Army medical facilities when paid for by the person undergoing the abortion.

That alone should guarantee that they do not have 60 votes to break a filibutser.

I would bet that the Defense authorization bill will get done ONLY in the Lame Duck Congress. Too many amendements which have nothing to do with defense should make it very diffcult to overcome a filibuster.

The Lame Duck is another story.

It still needs to pass first.

ACTION NEEDED HERE PLEASE
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-212825.htm

Originally Posted by LawEnforcer

Originally Posted by judyweller

There is one piece of good news. Sen. Burris has attached and abortion amendment to the Defense bIll to allow abortions in US Army medical facilities when paid for by the person undergoing the abortion.

That alone should guarantee that they do not have 60 votes to break a filibutser.

I would bet that the Defense authorization bill will get done ONLY in the Lame Duck Congress. Too many amendements which have nothing to do with defense should make it very diffcult to overcome a filibuster.

The Lame Duck is another story.

It still needs to pass first.

The more extraneous amendements that get attacked the greater the chance that Reid cannot break a filibuster. I doubt if anything will get done on this bill before the Lame Duck.

The Lame Duck is the danger point.

Originally Posted by judyweller

Originally Posted by LawEnforcer

Originally Posted by judyweller

There is one piece of good news. Sen. Burris has attached and abortion amendment to the Defense bIll to allow abortions in US Army medical facilities when paid for by the person undergoing the abortion.

That alone should guarantee that they do not have 60 votes to break a filibutser.

I would bet that the Defense authorization bill will get done ONLY in the Lame Duck Congress. Too many amendements which have nothing to do with defense should make it very diffcult to overcome a filibuster.

The Lame Duck is another story.

It still needs to pass first.

The more extraneous amendements that get attacked the greater the chance that Reid cannot break a filibuster. I doubt if anything will get done on this bill before the Lame Duck.

The Lame Duck is the danger point.

I agree, even McCain admitted that some amendements i the Do will be debated during the lame duck session

I've been emailing pretty much that exact list. Also include Scott Brown, Judd Gregg, Voinovich and Le Mieux.