MIAMI – The Senate vote on a motion to table the DREAM cloture vote, which took place days ago, reflected a strategic decision to buy time to build more support for the DREAM Act.
If you were watching the vote or saw a headline about it, you may have been puzzled as to why Senate Leader Reid made a motion to table his own cloture motion, and why so many Democrats voted for it. Why did this happen?
It’s complicated. Republicans have vowed to block every bill in the Senate until the issues of tax cuts and funding of the government for the current fiscal year are resolved. Democratic leadership decided they would push back the DREAM vote until these other issues are resolved. Once the tax cuts and government funding are dealt with, Republicans will not be able to use them as excuses to oppose the DREAM Act.
However: Senator Reid needed “Unanimous Consent” to withdraw his cloture motion and push back the vote. He did not get it, forcing him to offer a motion to table the cloture vote.
Procedural trick: By tabling the cloture vote, Democrats will be able to bring the DREAM Act up again in the coming days when the other issues have been resolved.
Bottom line: Our allies in the Senate know that DREAM supporters have momentum coming out of the House victory yesterday. They want to take the additional time, remove excuses now being made by Republicans, and cultivate more support for DREAM in the Senate.
A real vote on DREAM in the Senate will be scheduled later. Please continue to contact your Senators and tell them to support the Dream Act.
Here again is the phone number you can call to be patched through to your Senators offices: 866-996-5161.
Can’t make it to any of the DREAM Act Events? KEEP CALLING SENATOR LEMIEUX!
For your convenience, here is a suggested Script:
“Hello, I want to ask Senator/Representative __________ to support the DREAM Act and vote YES when it comes up for a vote. My zip code is ________. Thank you.”
It’s that simple! Feel free to add any story or information you would like to share. It would take you 2 minutes to complete each call.
Senator George LeMieux,(the number one National target): Please make sure to call his office every day several times a day. He could make the difference of having the DREAM Act, he could bring in more Senators. If you already called, CALL AGAIN!!
DC Swithboard: 1-866-587-3023 (Call and ask to be transfer to Sen. LeMieux office and ask him to support DREAM Act and VOTE YES)
Regional offices:
Tampa: 813-977-6450
Orlando: (407) 254-2573
Ft. Myers: (239) 332-3898
Jacksonville: (904) 398-8586
Miami: (305) 418-8553
Ft. Lauderdale: (954) 760-4124
Pesacola: (850) 433-2603
