The Fight For The DREAM Act Heats Up As Senate GOP Take Aim At Stopping Passage

With Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid set to bring up the DREAM Act up for a stand alone vote early next week, Senators on both sides of the aisle are expressing concerns about voting on this important legislation.

Scott Wong of the Politico has the full story in his article GOP Readies For DREAM Act Fight:

Senate Republicans and their conservative allies are sharpening their attacks on the proposed DREAM Act that would provide a path to citizenship for some illegal immigrants, declaring it would give “amnesty” to millions — some of them criminals.

The article goes on to cite several other problems that conservatives and GOP Senators have with the legislation. Mostly they are upset that it provides in state tuition to undocumented immigrants who entered the country before the age of 16 and have been in the country longer then 5 years.

What GOP Senators and conservative pundits continue to gloss over or forget to mention at all is that the DREAM Act does great things for military service as well. Undocumented immigrants already contribute to the military in this country often enlisting in the hopes that serving their country with honor and valor will
someday lead to legal permanant status
.

The simple fact that the DREAM Act is an investment on building the military, helping our schools and building our economy is not missed just on the GOP, Some Democratic Senators seem to be missing the point as well:

“I’m not going to support any act that I don’t think adds to jobs, or military or to the economy. Consequently I won’t support any motion to proceed or  any kind of cloture on the DREAM Act,” Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) told POLITICO.  “In addition, I think that has to be part of an overall comprehensive solution to immigration once we have the border secured, not until then.”

There is much wrong with the above statement, however, the most egregious part of it is that the Nelson will only focus on legislation that will help the economy and the military.

The DREAM Act does both.

It is an economic grower and does add jobs... According the National Immigration Law Center, the legislation could add significant amounts of money to states economies by allowing exemplary people an opportunity to contribute money in taxes.

Furthermore the military wants the DREAM Act to pass, no less then the Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has come out saying that the DREAM Act is necessary for military readiness.   

Despite all of this Senate Majority Leader Reid has indicated that he will continue to fight on:

Reid has argued to the contrary, saying the legislation recognizes that immigrants are a critical component to a thriving economy and rewards those fighting to defend America’s freedom.

“This bill will give children brought illegally to this country at no fault of their own the chance to earn legal status,” Reid said.