Congressional procedure is a bit crazy and certainly confusing, so people are probably feeling puzzled about what happened in the Senate earlier today.
The basics are this: Senate Majority Harry Reid wanted to buy some time for a DREAM Act vote because there are still some Senators who are wavering on their votes. And we want this thing passed, dangit.
He moved to “vitiate” the cloture vote twice – which is a fancy way of saying not have the vote. Both times, his move was rejected.
He then moved to “table” the vote, until the Senate could take up the House version of the bill that was passed last night. (yay!)
That motion passed with 59 votes, which means the House version of the bill will be voted on later in the Senate.
If you’re still confused, please know that the bottom line is this: this is a good thing.
Maegan “la Mamita Mala” Ortiz sums it up nicely:
All in all this gives DREAM a better chance in passing, especially when considering that there are Senators on the fence who do not want to be targeted and be in the spotlight twice. And obviously this gives advocates, activists, and you more time to call and ask that DREAM be supported. (via VivirLatino)
Majority Leader Reid Pulls Procedural Rabbit Out of His Hat to Prevent a Losing Cloture Vote on the DREAM Act
By Micheal E. Hill
Thursday, December 9, 2010 -- 12:15 pm EST
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid on Thursday, December 9, pulled a procedural rabbit out of his hat to prevent what would almost certainly have been a losing vote from occurring on the DREAM Act. The Majority Leader acted shortly after 11:15 am EST, when he moved to table his previously made motion that the Senate proceed to consideration of S. 3992, the Senate version of the DREAM Act. The Senate agreed to his motion by a vote of 59-40, thereby preventing the Senate from conducting a previously scheduled cloture vote in relation to the DREAM Act.
The action on Thursday in the Senate is considerd a victory for supporters of the DREAM Act. It enables them to avoid a potentially momentum-killing losing vote on the Senate bill, gives them as much as a week to continue to pound potential swing vote Senators, and could set up a situation where Republicans in the Senate have no refuge in procedure and have to cast a yes or no vote on the DREAM Act on the bill's merits.
The next action on the DREAM Act in the Senate is likely to take place next week or later.
Click Here to See 59-40 Vote on the Reid Motion to Table the Motion to Proceed
Check back with MicEvHill.Com later in the day today for updates as developments on the Senate bill warrant it.
XML U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 111th Congress - 2nd Session
as compiled through Senate LIS by the Senate Bill Clerk under the direction of the Secretary of the Senate
Vote Summary
Question: On the Motion to Table (Motion to Table the Motion to Proceed to S. 3992 )
Vote Number: 268 Vote Date: December 9, 2010, 11:22 AM
Required For Majority: 1/2 Vote Result: Motion to Table Agreed to
Measure Number: S. 3992 (DREAM Act of 2010 )
Measure Title: A bill to authorize the cancellation of removal and adjustment of status of certain alien students who are long-term United States residents and who entered the United States as children and for other purposes.
Vote Counts: YEAs 59
NAYs 40
Not Voting 1
Vote breakdown on above link, lets continue calling, I just called Brownback of Kansas, staffer's inquired for my comments, call!!!
