Key Dem senators not ruling out yes votes on DREAM Act

http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/1...s-on-dream-act




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 this week 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,” Conrad said.

“I’ll take a look at how it’s constructed. I haven’t made a judgment about it,” said Dorgan.

McCaskill was slightly more optimistic.

“It depends on the language,” she said. “I have some problems with the way the bill was drafted last time. I am certainly more comfortable with the notion that somebody who has been in the country for five years and who came here through the fault of their parents and not their fault ought to get a green card to serve in the military. I’m very sympathetic to that. I’m just looking at the drafting now.”

But Pryor is leaning no.

“I’ll have to look at it and see, but my inclination is probably to vote against it again,” he said. “But I want to look at it and see. I know there’s been some changes.”

A Landrieu spokesman said the Louisiana senator has not yet taken a position on the bill.

Meanwhile, military officials are pushing for a successful vote this week, saying the DREAM Act would aid recruitment efforts.

Louis Caldera, a former Army secretary and director of the White House military office, noted to reporters Friday that the Department of Defense’s fiscal year 2010-12 plan says passage would help “shape and maintain a mission-ready, all-volunteer force.”

GOP senators who backed the 2007 motion are planning to vote no this time around.

Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah is opposed to the bill, for example, as is his colleague, Sen. Robert Bennett.

“I support the DREAM Act as free standing legislation, but putting it in a bill that has a number of objectionable aspects is not something I support,” Bennett said in a statement. “If [Senate Majority Leader] Harry Reid [D-Nev.] brings it to the floor as a stand-alone bill, I will vote for it.”

But proponents of the DREAM Act say that GOP arguments about process fall short. They note that 12 Republicans voted for the cloture motion in 2007, pointing out that – just like this year -- the DREAM Act is a proposed an amendment to the defense authorization measure.

Bennett’s position mirrors that of several other Republicans.

“This is rank politics,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who has previously been an ally to Democrats on immigration reform. “There’s no way I’m going to vote for the DREAM Act in isolation on the defense bill. And if they think I’m the problem, they’re wrong. I will support good, comprehensive immigration reform, but not like this.”

Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), who voted no in 2007, stopped just short of threatening a GOP filibuster and said Reid risks killing a more comprehensive immigration reform package by submitting the DREAM Act prematurely.

“I’m for comprehensive reform, and it’s a mistake just to carve out one little piece of that and pass it independently,” Cornyn said. “Frankly, that’s one of the most sympathetic portions of immigration reform, and I’ve always thought it’s one of the engines that helps pull the train when it comes to other aspects of the issue. If it passes as a stand-alone, it will take the wind out of the sails to do other things we need to do on immigration.”

Both Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) and Minority Whip Jon Kyl (Ariz.) also voiced their displeasure, with McConnell telling The Hill that Reid is turning the defense authorization bill into “a Christmas tree for various interest group votes.”

Durbin said Republicans have only themselves to blame. Because of their “obstructionism,” he said Democrats have no choice but to attach the legislation to the popular defense bill.

“It reflects the desperate situation we face,” he said. “Because of their filibusters and the 60-vote requirements, the Senate has ground to a halt time and time again. We have so few opportunities to do anything of substance here, so Sen. Reid has decided we should try to seize this opportunity. For those who oppose it, I understand some of them are of good motive and others are not, but we’re going to do our best.”

Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), who met with President Obama at the White House on Thursday about the issue, brushed aside the suggestion that Democrats could again help block the bill.

“Democrats weren’t totally on board on healthcare. They weren’t totally on board on Wall Street reform. They’re not totally on board with what to do on taxes. Why would this be the one issue that we would have an expectation that Democrats would be totally on board?” Menendez said. “On none of the major issues of the day has there been unanimity in the caucus. So I don’t expect unanimity in our caucus. I do expect the great majority of our caucus will ultimately support this.”

Durbin said he has not yet whipped the vote but hopes to win over enough of his Democratic colleagues.

“It is the defense authorization bill that’s the underlying bill, and there’s good reason to vote for that,” he said. “I hope I can get them on final passage of the DREAM Act too.”

There are at least 40 solid “yes” votes, but getting to 60 will be difficult.

The only GOP Senate sponsor of the DREAM Act this year is Richard Lugar (Ind.).

Spokespersons for Republican Sens. Sam Brownback (Kan.), Susan Collins (Maine), Kay Bailey Hutchison (Texas), George LeMieux (Fla.), Olympia Snowe (Maine) and Scott Brown (Mass.) did not return phone calls seeking comment.

Democrats who didn’t comment for this article include Sens. Carte Goodwin (W.Va.), Max Baucus (Mont.) and Jon Tester (Mont.).

Democrats who voted no in 2007
Max Baucus (Mont.)
Robert Byrd (W.Va.) *
Kent Conrad (S.D.)
Byron Dorgan (N.D.)
Mary Landrieu (La.)
Claire McCaskill (Mo.)
Mark Pryor (Ark.)
Jon Tester (Mont.)

Republicans who votes yes in 2007
Bob Bennett (Utah)
Sam Brownback (Kan.)
Norm Coleman (Minn.) *
Susan Collins (Maine)
Larry Craig (Idaho) *
Chuck Hagel (Neb.) *
Orrin Hatch (Utah)
Kay Bailey Hutchison (Texas)
Trent Lott (Miss.) *
Richard Lugar (Ind.)
Mel Martinez (Fla.) *
Olympia Snowe (Maine)

Senators who did not vote
Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.)
Chris Dodd (D-Conn.)
Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.)*
John McCain (R-Ariz.)
* -- Senators who are no longer serving in the upper chamber

So much for 97-98% Democrats for it Mendez. I wouldnt be surprised if he misled us and ment 97-98% of the people who support it are dems.

( Worse, Menendez said it on a spanish channel, which will not be watched by the ordinary American.

This is not good. But it is all the more reason why we should fight harder than we did last week.

C'mon guys, we have to try, keep chipping away at your calls, only way to influence the vote in our favor.

Well, let's call the undecided dems. Call them in DC and call them at their regional offices!!! Included is all their info, those zip codes match the city on their left (i.e. 58768 is the zip for the city of Minot).

1-888-254-5087

Senator Conrad (ND-D) (202) 224-2043
“It’s not one of the things I’m focused on right now, but at the appropriate time I will review it,” Conrad said.
Minot: (701) 852-0703 (zip: 58768 )
Grand Forks: (701) 775-9601 (zip: 58206)
Bismarck: (701) 258-4648 (zip: 58505)
Fargo: (701) 232-8030 (zip: 58123)

Senator Dorgan (ND-D) (202) 224-2551
“I’ll take a look at how it’s constructed. I haven’t made a judgment about it,” said Dorgan.
Minot: (701) 852-0703 (zip: 58768 )
Grand Forks: (701) 746-8972 (zip: 58206)
Bismarck: (701) 250-4618 (zip: 58505)
Fargo: (701) 239-5389 (zip: 58123)

Claire McCaskill (MO-D) 202-224-6154
“It depends on the language... I’m very sympathetic to that. I’m just looking at the drafting now.”
Cape Girardeau: 573-651-0964 (zip: 63702)
Columbia: 573-442-7130 (zip: 65216)
Kansas City: 816-421-1639 (zip: 64131)
Springfield: 417-868-8745 (zip: 65897)
St. Louis: 314-367-1364 (zip: 63144)

Pryor (AR-K) (202) 224-2353
“I’ll have to look at it and see, but my inclination is probably to vote against it again,” he said. “But I want to look at it and see. I know there’s been some changes.”
Little Rock: (501) 324-6336 (zip:72216)

Mary Landrieu (LA-D) (202) 224-5824
Still undecided
Shreveport:318-676-3085 (zip: 71137)
Baton Rouge: 225-389-0395 (zip: 70822)
Lake Charles:337-436-6650 (zip: 70612)
New Orleans: 504-589-2427 (zip: 70184)

The Hill changed the title to this same article to Key Dems May Back Dream Act. It's the same article but with a much better title.

I just called Senator Goodwin, staff member heard me out, just talk to these guys on the phones when call, tell them your story, friends you want to join the military, that we were kids when brought to America, they'll listen, keep up the work.

"looking at the draft"? what!?

Pryor is a no :/ I called his office about an hour ago and hs staff told me he decided on voting no