After pulling the trillion-dollar Omnibus package from the Senate floor last night, Harry Reid (D-NV) announced the DREAM Act (Development, Relief, and Education of Alien Minors) will be voted on during a Saturday Senate session.
Lawmakers on both sides are gearing up for an-all out battle.
“The Senate’s consideration of the DREAM Act is absolutely ridiculous and illustrates exactly why Americans are frustrated with their government. This is too important a policy to address during a lame duck session of Congress, not to mention the bill itself is an insult to every person going through the immigration process legally. When President Obama, Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi get serious about immigration reform, Congressman Bilbray and the bipartisan Immigration Reform Caucus are prepared to meet with them,” said Travis Considine, director of communications for Congressman. Bilbray (R-CA).
However, the other side believes their arguments are more compelling than conventional wisdom.
“Allowing immigrant students to continue their education and achieve their potential will boost the economy and result in higher tax revenues. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has found that the DREAM Act ‘would reduce deficits by about $2.2 billion over the 2011-2020 period.’ Over the course of their working lives, these young people will generate between $1.4 and $3.6 trillion for the economy. Deporting them will increase the deficit by many billions of dollars,” National Immigration Forum said.
However, the organization fails to note the DREAM Act will cost taxpayers $6.2 billion per year in tuition subsidies, according to Center for Immigration Studies.
After the historic November elections politicians were introduced to the Tea Party movement and will, at least, consider their positions on a broad spectrum of policy issues, including amnesty.
The SoCal Patriot Coalition (SCPC), which umbrellas 30 different Tea Party groups had a lot to say about the DREAM Act legislation.
“The DREAM Act would grant legalization and protected status to millions of illegal aliens at a time of record economic turmoil and unemployment in the U.S. We also have a deadly drug war raging on our southern border highlighted again this week with the brutal murder of Border Patrol agent in Arizona by heavily armed Mexican smugglers, at least one of whom was a twice deported Mexican drug cartel member,” the group said.