democratic opposition

On other matters, too, Reid has said that unified GOP opposition and the Senate’s schedule will limit Democrats’ ambitions.

Obama has called for a push to enact comprehensive immigration legislation that addresses border security, revises legal immigration limits and provides a pathway to citizenship for millions of illegal immigrants. Reid says such legislation could not attract the votes needed to overcome Republican objections, particularly with no GOP proponents.

This leaves Reid once again facing a sort of Hobson’s choice. He could do nothing, or he could press the Senate to vote on two narrow proposals: one to boost agricultural immigration permits for temporary workers and another to allow some undocumented children who were brought to this country by their parents to obtain legal status — an initiative known as the Dream Act. In this case, picking off a pair of small-bore bills represents a major strategic shift that supporters of an overhaul of immigration policy have previously fought with vigor.

Still, Reid is not optimistic about passage of even these slim immigration measures. “I am happy to do the Dream Act,” Reid said at an event in Nevada late last month. “But I’m not going to do the Dream Act unless I have 60 votes.” Certainly, his concern is colored by the last time the bill came before the Senate in 2007. Eight Democrats voted against a similar measure, and all except for the late Robert C. Byrd of West Virginia are still in the Senate.

Do we know which 7 of these Democrats he's talking about?

http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cf...716156&cpage=2


OK. Thanks for the response.
Sign the petition to get these senators on board here:
http://www.change.org/petitions/view..._the_dream_act

Baucus (D-MT), Conrad (D-ND), Dorgan (D-ND), Landrieu (D-LA), Pryor (D-AR), Tester (D-MT), McCaskill (D-MO),

Byrd (D-WV)

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LI...n=1&vote=00394

Well we wont have to worry about Byrd anymore. But we will have to see what side his replacement is on

McCaskill is a supporter for Dream Act now !

any strategies on getting the remaining senators on board?

It's tough because the senators from the northwesternish state have to reason to vote for Dream Act there are very few people let alone immigrants in their state. The best move would be try to win by compassion maybe sending letters and calling their office would make a difference.

do they mind getting emails from people who are out of their states or does it not matter?

They probably do since your not one of their "constituents" buy they it's worth a try to see what happens.

OK, guys.

here's a petition to sign to get the following senators on board!:
http://www.change.org/petitions/view..._the_dream_act

Here's a script that you can use to email the following senators: Baucus (D-MT), Conrad (D-ND), Dorgan (D-ND), Landrieu (D-LA), Pryor (D-AR), Tester (D-MT), McCaskill (D-MO):

I am writing to you to express the urgent need to pass the DREAM Act (Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors). The DREAM Act was introduced in the Senate and House on March 26 as S.729 and H.R.1751 respectively.

The DREAM Act is a bipartisan proposal, which would create a pathway to citizenship for thousands of young students who were brought to the United States years ago as children. These children have grown up in our communities and include honor roll students, star athletes, talented artists, homecoming queens, and aspiring teachers, doctors, and U.S. soldiers.

Even though they were brought to the U.S. years ago as children, they face unique barriers to higher education, are unable to work legally in the U.S., and often live in constant fear of detection by immigration authorities. Our immigration law currently has no mechanism to consider the special equities and circumstances of such students. The DREAM Act would eliminate this flaw.

By enacting the DREAM Act, Congress would legally recognize what is de facto true: these young people belong here. If Congress fails to act this year, another entire class of outstanding, law-abiding high school students will graduate without being able to plan for the future, and some will be removed from their homes to countries they barely know. This tragedy will cause America to lose a vital asset: an educated class of promising immigrant students who have demonstrated a commitment to hard work and a strong desire to be contributing members of our society.

A more educated workforce which contributes to our tax base is precisely the economic stimulus we need in these hard times.

I urge you to support and cosponsor the DREAM Act by contacting Senators Richard Durbin or Richard Lugar in the Senate or Representatives Howard Berman or Lincoln Diaz-Balart in the House of Representatives.

It'd be great if you're from any of those states listed above, but everyone feel free to email them too!