Rep. Gutierrez: “Great” meeting with Rubio on alternative DREAM Act
 

A key Democratic congressman said Wednesday that he was encouraged by a meeting with Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) over his plan to introduce a pared-down version of the DREAM Act.
Rubio huddled behind closed doors Wednesday afternoon with three Latino Democratic members of Congress in order to discuss the proposed legislation; Sen. Robert Menendez (N.J.), Rep. Charles Gonzalez (Texas), and Rep. Luis Gutierrez (Ill.)., an indication they may consider backing the yet-to-be-released bill.

“It was a great meeting. Look, I am going to meet with anyone independent of their political party or what perceived or real political benefit my association [provides] as long as it does one thing: stop the deportations,” Gutierrez told Univision News in an interview Wednesday evening.

The congressman, who’s known as a champion for immigration reform, said the three members who met with Rubio aren’t yet willing to announce their support for the plan since the final language has not yet been drafted, although they did discuss some details.

“He said it and we agreed with him; today was not a day for us to come together because there is no proposal to agree on. It was simply a conversation opening dialogue,” said Gutierrez.
Attracting bipartisan support for his alternative DREAM Act would be a major political coup for Rubio. It would allow him to put pressure on President Obama and Democratic leaders to get on board with his proposal in the middle of an election year where immigration has become a lightning rod issue.
Rubio’s proposal is styled after the current version of the DREAM Act, which would provide a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children who are seeking a higher education or want to enlist in the military. The proposal, which is widely popular with Latinos and non-Latinos alike, passed the House in 2010 but failed to clear a 60-vote hurdle in the Senate to break a filibuster.

The DREAM Act has been stalled in Congress since then under near-universal Republican opposition, including from Rubio, who describes it as an “amnesty” bill that could lead to “chain migration.” The presumptive GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney said said he would veto the current version, though he has said recently he is open to Rubio’s plan.

Rubio says that under his proposal, certain undocumented minors would receive legal status, but not a special pathway to citizenship. That has been a main point of contention of several immigration-reform advocates and Democrats, who have described it as a half measure, an indication that it’s far from certain Democrats will endorse it.

Indeed, earlier this month, Gutierrez labeled the plan the “Stolen Dreams Act.” But he pledged to hold his fire until Rubio comes out with more details regarding the plan.

“I also have concerns. I don’t want to speak to the details of a bill that he hasn’t fully elaborated. He gave us some good indications about different components of the bill, but those components could change,” he said. “Let’s give him a chance. He asked me to give him a chance, and I’m going to wait.”

Also among Gutierrez’s concerns is the apparent lack of support for such a proposal among the Republicans in the House of Representatives, where they make up the majority. That could be nearly impossible to reverse in a presidential election year, plus the Illinois congressman said that could be even tougher since six of the eight GOP House members who backed the DREAM Act in 2010 are no longer serving.

“The Achilles Heel to any proposal seems to be the Republican House of Representatives,” he said. “They’re in charge. They’re in the majority. He can speak to me all he wants.”

Despite his lingering concerns, Gutierrez said he agreed with Rubio to continue the conversation.

“We have [agreed] that we are going to continue to speak. When we’ll meet again, I don’t know. I asked him when did he think we could hear more, he said in a few weeks. Sounds great to me,” he said.

“I hope at the next meeting we’re closer.”

http://univisionnews.tumblr.com/post...ubio-dream-act

Re: Rep. Gutierrez: “Great” meeting with Rubio on alternative DREAM Act
 

Everything is going smooth so far.

Re: Rep. Gutierrez: “Great” meeting with Rubio on alternative DREAM Act
 

I am glad to see Gutierrez not shooting down the bill on site and appreciate what Rubio is doing. Once Gutierrez gives his support, the rest of the hispanic caucus and a large number of Democrats in the house will throw their support as well. They know they need the Latino vote for the President to win this year, they cannot and will not back down from this opportunity to show both the nation that a compromise can be reached but to also show support for the Latino community.

Re: Rep. Gutierrez: “Great” meeting with Rubio on alternative DREAM Act
 

Lets hold our fire until member Smooth weighs in on this. But yes things do seem to be shaping up. :mrgreen:

Re: Rep. Gutierrez: “Great” meeting with Rubio on alternative DREAM Act
 

I want to know whether or not house republicans and 10 senate republicans will support this bill or idea.

Re: Rep. Gutierrez: “Great” meeting with Rubio on alternative DREAM Act
 

I think some people in this forum are to put it blankly dreaming. On a day when the house speaker went out on the record to state that house republicans would vote en masse against this resolution no matter it's details, to even assume this will pass indicates a lack of understanding of the political reality and a strong iron denial complex. There's no point in dreaming without the hard evidence. Also as for Gutierrez he hasn't even flipped sides yet, he's still waiting for more details and evidence. Rubio's bill I believe will not go to the length he desires. This bill based on current trends will not pass, mark my words.

Re: Rep. Gutierrez: “Great” meeting with Rubio on alternative DREAM Act
 

I wonder how long those Work Visas are renewable for?


There are already GOP's supporting the bill. No worries this time because it is a Rubio bill and Durbin will probably jump in to make it a bi-partisan coimpromise. They should add another Border Security and also E-Verify with the Arizona style laws for all states.

Re: Rep. Gutierrez: “Great” meeting with Rubio on alternative DREAM Act
 

RUBIO PULL THE BILL OUT ALREADY!!! Guhhhdamnit!

Re: Rep. Gutierrez: “Great” meeting with Rubio on alternative DREAM Act
 

And watch it gain scrutiny and political games for months, only to fail.

Re: Rep. Gutierrez: “Great” meeting with Rubio on alternative DREAM Act
 

It could go either way. Like I have told you before my friend, all of us have that negative reality in our minds. But, the way things are unfolding so far are really screwing up that thought. Admit it, influential GOP legislators are showing signs of flexibility, which would not be demonstrated with a Democrat pushing for relief. I still insist that something good will come out of this--even though things seem difficult. :- )