Fulfilling a campaign promise, and a critical one, Harry Reid plans to bring the DREAM Act to a vote in the Senate, as a stand-alone.
President Obama has reiterated his support, but the bill's prospects in the Senate remain uncertain.
Right now, it is unclear whether all Democrats would vote for the DREAM Act, which is a problem given the Republicans’ larger share of the Senate after the newly elected Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) takes Obama’s former seat. At least five Democrats who voted against the DREAM Act in 2007 told The Hill they are still uncertain on how they would vote this year, and only two Republicans have said they would vote for the act as a standalone bill. Reid needs at least 60 votes to prevent a Republican filibuster — the tactic that took down the effort to insert the DREAM Act and a repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” into the defense authorization bill in September.
The five Dems who were unsure back in September were Conrad, Dorgan, McCaskill, Pryor and Landrieu. The Republicans are Lugar, a cosponsor, and potentially Sen. Bob Bennett, who is on his way out. He said in September:
“I support the DREAM Act as free-standing legislation, but putting it in a bill that has a number of objectionable aspects is not something I support,” Bennett said in a statement. “If Harry Reid brings it to the floor as a standalone bill, I will vote for it.”
In addition, Sens. Scott Brown, George LeMieux and Susan Collins all indicated during the debate on the defense authorization bill in September, when it failed, that they would support the DREAM Act as a stand alone bill. We'll see if that still holds true, or if they'll be brought back into the fold by DeMint's McConnell's whip.