Democrats Desperate to Pass The DREAM ACT

Several months ago, Haiti was hit by a devastating earthquake that disrupted their already dysfunctional third-world society. The crisis in Haiti has only been amplified over the months since the earthquake. Still barely recovering from the aftershocks, Haiti was struck by a cholera epidemic. The death toll from the plague has topped 1,000 people. In the midst of combating both the earthquake and the epidemic, Hurricane Thomas struck Haiti in October, killing 9 Haitians and causing widespread flooding that perpetuated the spread of cholera.

In the aftermath of the earthquake, government officials seemed all too willing to show their sympathy to the Haitian people. Many travelled all the way to Haiti to observe the disaster and meet with the victims. They also allowed 1200 Haitian orphans to seek refuge in the United States with the understanding that the children would be granted permanent residence. Representative Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE) authored the Help Haiti Act for the purposes of expediting the process.


Receiving extensive bipartisan support, the Help Haiti Act was passed through the House and the Senate, and after being amended in the Senate, the bill was placed on the agenda for this week’s legislative session. However, Pelosi, citing “scheduling considerations,” tabled the bill on Monday. Session continued on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday with no sign of the bill being mentioned for consideration.

Word in the Halls of Congress is that Democrats wish to attach the Help Haiti Act to the controversial DREAM Act in order to make it more palatable for Republicans considering opting out of a Senate filibuster. Fortenberry addressed his colleagues in a letter, citing his concern over Pelosi’s “scheduling”:

I write to express my concern with circumstances preventing H.R. 5283, the Help HAITI Act, from coming to the Floor for a vote. I returned to Washington on Monday, anticipating the House to act to give vulnerable Haitian orphans and their adoptive American families, who have endured so much heartbreak and tragedy, the comfort of knowing they are here to stay. My bipartisan measure, the Help HAITI Act, was originally passed by the House on July 20, 2010, then was amended and passed by the Senate on August 4, 2010. I, along with numerous colleagues and members of the international adoption community, was pleased to see its inclusion on Monday’s suspensions list.

I was then surprised when it was pulled from legislative business on Monday, and with the consequent secrecy about its current status. My office has heard reports that this critical legislative fix, which would clear legal obstacles to U.S. citizenship for as many as 1200 Haitian orphans who were in the process of being adopted before the January 12 earthquake, may be used as a vehicle for a controversial immigration measure.

However, this past Thursday, Harry Reid
announced his desire to introduce the bill on the senate floor. In the event of a senate introduction, the concern that the Help Haiti Act would be attached to the DREAM Act would disappear. But in the unfortunate case that the Help Haiti Act is written in with the DREAM Act, the decision for GOP representatives is a simple “no.” We cannot allow the DREAM Act to pass, and if necessary, the GOP must postpone legislation on the Help Haiti Act until 2011. It is unfortunate that the Haitian ethnicity is not a large enough minority demographic to merit the attention of Congressional Democrats. They would much prefer to use Haitian orphans as political collateral to establish a powerful liberal voting bloc through the passage of the DREAM Act.

http://thehayride.com/2010/11/democr...the-dream-act/

What a bunch of idiots. This is why they got clobbered in the midterms.

Seriously, you pick a bill, fight for it, and educate the people. You don't say "we'll just throw it in a bill that they like and hope they won't notice" then Republicans who might actually vote for the dream act can say they are angry about how they are using "political trickery" and vote it down FOR THAT REASON

And once again...
history repeats itself.

*Applaud*

Fucking Democrats, they have the right ideas but are dumb as fuck.

why god why?

The only source we having concerning this is from one republican congressman?

There is no concrete evidence to suggest this is even true. The right wing republicans are just doing all they can to erode support for the dream act.

See how they are trying to make it into a black vs Latino thing? Please don't fall into the right wing trap.

I feel like I have to scream before you guys understand, DA as a standalone bill is just as difficult, if not worse, than as an amendment!

I've grown tired of repeating the reasons why this is true over many threads, but I hope it's sufficient to say DA will get amendments, there is not enough time before Congress adjourns for it to be voted on amended.

Democrats do stupid shit, yes, but ever think that maybe, just maybe, these politicians who have rotted away their lives in Washington may actually know what they are doing?! And what the hell is wrong with you if you are upset about this, upset that Democrats are trying to help Haitian orphans?!

There is ONE single reason that Republicans don't like this and don't like it as standalone, hell the damn article spells it out for you:

"They would much prefer to use Haitian orphans as political collateral to establish a powerful liberal voting bloc through the passage of the DREAM Act."

Republicans know that DA gets passed, Democrats get extra votes for decades. Listen, it's fine to be angry at them, but at the end of the day, there is a lot of truth when Obama says to Latinos "remember who is on your side."

I much rather have DA as an amendment to a bill for orphans then standalone. Standalone means cloture, 60 votes necessary right off the bat, you are kidding yourself if you actually think amendments will get DA through. DA as an amendment to an orphan bill may just maybe reach Republicans black hearts so they can vote for the greater good.

Using it as an amendment means no negotiation on the DREAM act then. Under that scenario, you can't suggest an amendment to an amendment. That means they will be forced to choose to take the bill as it is, or vote it down. They ones who say "I'd like this fixed on it or that fixed" will be a guaranteed no vote.

And by the way, does everyone have amnesia from two months ago? This trick was tried already.

This is not a news article. It's an opinion piece. This hasn't happened yet, if it will at all.