Majority Leader Reid, live from Netroots Nation

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/20...etroots-Nation


Update 13: On immigration reform, Reid -- as with energy reform -- says that we need it, but expresses frustration that the very same Republicans who say it is a federal problem refuse to allow the Senate to move forward on reform, singling out Jon Kyl and John McCain in particular for criticism. Reid says immigration reform "is not amnesty, it's fairness." On the DREAM Act, Reid says passing it is of critical importance. He says that to bring it to floor, he wants 60 votes, because he doesn't want to bring it to a vote unless it can pass.

As far as vote counting goes, we have 54 supporters of Dream Act in the Senate now ! So, 6 more votes to go guys !

Here are some potential supporters for the 6 remaining votes:

1) I suspect that Sen. McCain will quickly position himself to be pro-immigrant after the nasty Arizona Republican Primary on Aug 25.

2) The newly appointed Sen. Goodwin of WV, who has just replaced the deceased former Sen. Byrd, could be a supporter of the Dream Act. I think we need to press him for his position on Dream Act.

3) Sen. Robert Bennett of UT was a supporter of Dream Act in 2007. However, he hasn't co-sponsored the Dream Act 2009 because he was targeted by the Tea Party for not being conservative enough. Nonetheless, he lost his primary bid; 2010 is effectively his last year in the Senate. He has nothing to lose now; so I believe he'll vote based on his conscience to pass the Dream Act.

4) Sen. Kay Hagan of NC: though she previously stated that she opposed Dream Act as a stand alone bill, I still think that she's an easier target than anyone else since she's not up for election until 2014.

5) Sen. Mark Begich of AK: he's a solid supporter for comprehensive immigration reform. However, he has not stated his position for the Dream Act as a stand alone bill.

6) Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison of TX : she voted to proceed with debate on the Dream Act in 2007 but suggested major changes to the bill

7) Sen. Scott Brown of MA: he dodged the question about his support for the Dream Act multiple times. He's on the fence now.

Sen. George LeMieux of FL: on the fence. His support is still up for grasp

9) Sen. Mary Landrieu of LA: on the fence. She cosponsored the Dream Act in 2003. She voted against the Dream Act in 2007, however it was partially because she was up for re-election in 2008.

lets hope that byrd's temporary replacement will vote in favor (not much there but still its 1 more vote), also they could add dream to a budget bill in writting or committee phrase (as you technically cannot filibuster an amendment then)

Forgive me, but there is more than one Republican willing to vote for it on the record, Orrin Hatch, Lugar, and very potentially Collins and Snowe. Brown is a likely yes, especially after all the PR that kid from Harvard got last month.

There are 59 Democrats in the Senate, so everyone, weekend quiz: Which are the six Democrats against DA?

5 are most likely the ones in support of blocking the AZ lawsuit...

I don't trust Blanche Lincoln one bit.

well we better request Reid to indicate how many and whose votes we do have!

FYI, Sen. Blanche Lincoln is currently a co-sponsor of the Dream Act

Yes, i know. Thats why I said I don't trust her. Just because she's a co-sponsor doesn't mean she'll vote for it. FYI, McCain was a co-sponsor of DREAM in 2007...and walked out.

McCain is an opportunist who would screw anyone to get another term. He's proven himself as a flip flopper. I wouldn't hold my breath wasn't he the SAME person who left the floor minutes to the DREAM being voted on, after he sponsored it???

Those people who are undecided need to get off the fence before they break it. To me undecided = NO. You either do or you don't support our DREAM

Exactly, but lack of Republican votes is not stopping him from pursuing piecemeal climate legislation, "comprehensive" legislation put aside for now. The administration has always had plan B for this: If Congress cannot ennact cap and trade, the EPA can enforce it. On immigration, we've yet to hear what plan B is from advocates, the White House, or Congress. We know that DA is passable if really pushed. And it has momentum now and the we cannot squander the opportunity. Dream Act is its own legislation with its own merits, and it's not plan B for advocates. Same for the farm workers that do backbreaking work on a daily basis and can be helped by AgJobs.