Thread: Durbin’s Dream Act could run afoul of Schumer’s bill

"Sen. Dick Durbin is soft-pedaling his Dream Act immigration bill for fear of undercutting the comprehensive reform pushed by his Democratic leadership rival, Sen. Charles Schumer."

http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/9962 ... umers-bill

"Durbin’s Dream Act could run afoul of Schumer’s bill
By Alexander Bolton - 05/24/10 07:44 PM ET

Sen. Dick Durbin is soft-pedaling his Dream Act immigration bill for fear of undercutting the comprehensive reform pushed by his Democratic leadership rival, Sen. Charles Schumer.

Schumer (N.Y.) spearheads efforts to pass the bigger bill this year, but activists believe Durbin’s (D-Ill.) scaled-back version has a better chance of passing.

But there is a complication: Durbin, the second-ranked Dem, cannot want to burnish the reputation of Schumer, ranked third, who is jockeying to take charge if Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (Nev.) loses reelection in November.

Pro-immigration groups are pressing Durbin to move the Dream Act separately from comprehensive reform, which is stalled by a lack of Republican support.

But Durbin is holding back, even though he calls the Dream Act a high priority. It would allow undocumented students to become permanent residents if they came to the country as children and attend college or enlist in the military.

“I’ve tried two or three times on the floor of the Senate, and I hope I get a chance to try again soon,â€