Roger Algase's blog yesterday asked the question: "What does President Obama's position on health care reform have to do with immigration?"
An excellent question Roger, because if you recall immigration reform played a key part in the health care debate. Specifically, the Hispanic Caucus, lead by Congressman Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill), threatened to withhold their vote for Health Care Reform because it contained xenophobic anti-immigrant provisions.
His exact words: "I would find it extremely difficult if not impossible to vote for any measure that denies undocumented workers health care purchased with their own dollars."
The good Congressman ultimately pledged his support for the President's signature legislation in return for an empty (and now broken) promise from President Obama that he would meaningfully address immigration reform... and no, the President's meeting with a pop star and a desperate housewife should not in any way be interpreted as satisfaction of his debt to the Caucus.
As such, immigration reform minded Democrats were deceived into relinquishing their one legitimate bargaining chip to force the President's hand to effectuate an end to the rampant deportations that have hallmarked the Obama Presidency.
In this regard, in the Senate during the lame duck session, five Democrats fillibustered the DREAM Act: Kay Hagan of North Carolina, Mark Pryor of Arkansas, Ben Nelson of Nebraska and Montana Democrats, Jon Tester and Max Baucus.
To add insult to injury, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) skipped the DREAM Act cloture vote to attend a Christmas party.
Merry Christmas DREAMers.
Parenthetically, three Republicans crossed party lines in favor of the DREAM Act, enough to get it through if the Democrats where whipped in line.
So you may ask, what fallout resulted from Freshman Senator Manchin's act of indifference to DREAM? Well, appointments to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, the Senate Armed Services Committee, and the Senate Special Committee on Aging of course.
Can you name one Senator that even lost a committee appointment over their failure to vote for DREAM?
I know I can't.
This was the last chance that the Democrats had to get immigration reform through Congress, and they couldn't force unanimity from their members over something as obvious as the DREAM Act. They certainly got their votes for health care though, by beg, borrowing, and most importantly, stealing from the immigration reform caucus.
PATHETIC.
We find that, overall, immigrants have lower rates of health insurance, use less health care,
Posted by: Hansel | Dec 09, 2012 at 03:44 AM
This was the last chance that the Democrats had to get immigration reform through Congress, and they couldn't force unanimity from their members over something as obvious as the DREAM Act.
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Posted by: fesPgq | May 14, 2012 at 11:11 PM
no he didnt choose to get payzlired. but the person who fell asleep at the wheel got off without a scratch. its just another example of how irresponsible people fuck responsible people over every day. responsibility evaders should be shot in the back of the head and the next of kin BILLED the cost of the bullet. usually .50c or less. but he gets around pretty good and does as much for himself as he can. infact i would say he is MORE capable then the average 81 year old.
Posted by: iva | Apr 26, 2012 at 12:18 PM
kbot: I am going to assume you are asikng, why help people who can not help themselves and were born with disabilities, not of their own choosing .*If you have to ask, then there is really no hope for you. I can only hope you are personally adversely impacted by one of these diseases and have to rely on others. Only then will you understand their lives and know why they need our help.*Normally I would not wish that on anyone, but someone like you needs to know what it is like.
Posted by: Pierre | Apr 26, 2012 at 01:31 AM
when you help people who as you say can not help tvheselmes you are making them dependant. but when you dont help them they are FORCED to help tvheselmes. and then and only then can god help them. i dont know how many 40-50 year old dependant personality types i have seen over the years but it has got to be at least 1000. and none of them were handicapped. they just didnt know how to do a damn thing for tvheselmes. its disgusting. and you are enabling them STOP ENABLING THEM!!!
Posted by: Kazushi | Apr 25, 2012 at 11:22 PM
I think a Christmas party was not the best place to be during the vote!
But the health care debate will continue so he has plenty more time!
Posted by: Edward | Apr 01, 2012 at 11:14 AM
Matt, you can see my comments to your post on the ilw.com blog. I agree with you 100 per cent about the DREAM Act.
Posted by: Roger Algase | Mar 30, 2012 at 09:39 AM