Congress: Moving ahead on immigration
 

"Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) is moving full steam ahead with a politically tenuous strategy to pass comprehensive immigration reform this summer -- with or without Republicans -- in an effort to inspire Latino voters ahead of the midterm elections," Roll Call writes. "Reid caught many colleagues and activists off guard with his forceful stance on the need for reform this year during a speech at an immigration rally last weekend in his home state, where Hispanic voters will play a crucial role in his sagging re-election campaign." Reid said on Saturday, “We are going to pass comprehensive immigration reform. We need to do this this year. We can’t let excuses like a Supreme Court nomination get in the way.”

“The Senate on Monday agreed to consider a temporary extension of unemployment benefits after four Republicans joined Democrats in voting to debate the proposal, which has become the focus of an intensifying fight over deficit spending,” the New York Times says.

The AP looks at the hypocrisy of spending rhetoric versus earmarks. It goes to Huntsville, Ala., for a speech by Sen. Richard Shelby, who says to a crowd in the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, "We're spending a lot of money that we don't have." AP points out: "Lost in the moment is this irony: Shelby's anti-spending message is being delivered in a government-built museum to which he frequently steers public money. The admiring crowd is made up of people whose livelihood depends on federal aerospace programs that drive the local economy. And the main point of Shelby's speech is to assure them he's fighting to stop NASA budget cuts and keep the spigot in Washington flowing. The scene helps explain why Washington can't control its spending. Lawmakers and their voters usually love the federal money that flows into their communities, even though they're wary of spending in the abstract and balk at tax increases."

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archi...3/2266239.aspx


So, Immigration battle starts in the Summer time. Let's hope they debate and vote on it! They need to pass it!

Re: Congress: Moving ahead on immigration
 

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/sthttp://...cal&id=7379246

We need to target Olympia Snowe, Susanne Collins, Lindsey Graham, Richard Lugar, Gregg Judd, George Voinovich, John McCain. Who else should we add on to the list?

Re: Congress: Moving ahead on immigration
 

Call me crazy, but Senator Brown too. Seems like he is at least willing to work with democrats and vote against the bulk of republicans.

Re: Congress: Moving ahead on immigration
 

I think Lugar and Graham has high chance for voting for us. I am not too sure about others. Don't forget they might get party pressure even though they might want to help us out inside their hearts.

And if we can get at least half of those Republicans you listed and if Reid's claim of 56 Democrats add up, it might be a great news.

Re: Congress: Moving ahead on immigration
 

I don't think we need to waste time calling Graham. He's on our side no matter what.

I think the priority list should go something like this:

Olympia Snowe
George Voinovich
Sam Brownback
George LeMieux
Richard Lugar
Gregg Judd
Susan Collins
Scott Brown
John Cornyn
Orrin Hatch
Kay Bailey Hutchinson
Bob Bennett

And I know I've said it before, but I'll say it again: McCain will NOT vote for CIR/DA.

Re: Congress: Moving ahead on immigration
 

People! this is nothing new! Rollcall just interpreted what Reid said, on nevada rally, to be something different. I am skeptical until I see real action.

Re: Congress: Moving ahead on immigration
 

Great list!!!

Re: Congress: Moving ahead on immigration
 

I hope you guys are using our forum tool which tells you which senators and house reps we SHOULD target....

Re: Congress: Moving ahead on immigration
 

Yes we can!

Re: Congress: Moving ahead on immigration
 

Re: Congress: Moving ahead on immigration
 

Immigration is going to be a big challenge. The retirement of Stevens, Obama's proposal of the nuclear reactors and their safety from countries/cities which the U.S considers dangerous, such as Tehran (in Iran) and just the upcoming primaries and upcoming elections are not on the side of the dream activists... oh i forgot...and the unemployment rate being at approximately 9.2%.

On the positive side- the democrats have power in the house and senate ( well a majority). If the future beneficiaries start organizing now, and contacting others... Dream Act could occur. The bill itself has been sitting for ten years in a stalemate... I suggest writing letters to Washington (whitehouse. gov), posting more videos on youtube, and reaching outside the borders. This means not just using this as a means of communication such as this site. Many people who would support the dream act, do not, because they have no idea what it is... Hence, education is essential. The trail of dreams is doing a good job highlighting in the media what the dream act is. HOWEVER, those are only 4 out of approximately (im guessing here) the million or so students that would benefit from the passage of the dream act. Hence, more blogs need to be created, more facebook pages, more twitter accounts, more pictures posted, and not just rely on traditional media. In doing predictions for the passage of this bill, a knowledge of game theory could help... ( a book I recommend [ not immigration related] is The Predictioneer's Game :: Bruce Bueno de Mesquita)...

aside: i blog.

Re: Congress: Moving ahead on immigration
 

I agree wholeheartedly....