I'm not being cynical. Democrats have leverage in December to pass the Dream act. What they are trying to do right now is cement their status as the ones that fought for us. Even if the discharge petition works, they don't have that option in the senate OR trumps veto.

They also don't want to compromise too much when they know they can pass a clean DA in December.

Obamacare repeal failed and tax reform failure is next. The republican intraparty war will be worse come December. They'll be begging to sign the DA just to keep govt funded.