USA TODAY

October 25, 2007 Thursday
FINAL EDITION

Senate shies away from immigration issue;
Vote dampens DREAM Act, aimed at youths

BYLINE: Kathy Kiely

SECTION: NEWS; Pg. 4A

LENGTH: 1048 words

WASHINGTON — The Senate signaled a desire to steer clear of divisive immigration issues Wednesday by refusing to take up legislation that would provide safe harbor for young adults who grew up in the USA after being brought here illegally by their parents.

The 52-44 vote — eight short of the 60 needed to move the bill toward a final vote — came as three potential beneficiaries of the legislation, known as the DREAM Act, looked on from the Senate gallery. It provided a stark example of how hostile the climate has become to immigration measures since a sweeping bill backed by President Bush failed last June.

“Since when in America do we visit the sins and crimes of parents on their children?” said Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., the bill’s sponsor.

In bringing the DREAM (Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors) Act to the floor, Durbin said he was reviving “the most bipartisan” element in the larger immigration bill. Last year, the Judiciary Committee approved it unanimously.

Wednesday’s debate indicated that attitudes have shifted.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., called the DREAM Act “a divisive issue.” Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., said it “will strike a dagger in the will of the American people” to debate it. The White House, which Durbin said insisted on including the DREAM Act in this year’s comprehensive immigration bill, issued a statement opposing it.

And one of the bill’s co-sponsors, Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, voted against it. Spokeswoman Susan Wheeler said Crapo objected to parliamentary procedures that would have limited chances to amend the bill. Eight Democrats also voted no.

“The debate has changed a lot,” Durbin said. “There’s a genuine political fear about this issue.”

Durbin, the deputy Democratic leader of the Senate, said the DREAM Act’s failure will dampen his enthusiasm for business-backed immigration measures that the Senate likely will consider soon. Major corporations, such as Microsoft, and trade associations, such as the Western Growers Association, are seeking to expand visas for temporary foreign workers in fields ranging from farming to computer design.

“If you’re going to turn away all these children … don’t come back to me and tell me that we need a bigger labor pool and more talent in America,” Durbin told his colleagues. Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., said the vote was a “litmus test” of congressional willingness to move ahead on other immigration issues.

“If we can’t do this for children,” Menendez said, “I doubt we can do anything else for immigration reform.”

The DREAM Act would have protected certain children of illegal immigrants from deportation and qualified young adults up to age 30 for permanent legal status if they completed at least two years of either postsecondary education or military service.

Opponents argued that the age of the children when they crossed the border doesn’t change their status. “This is an amnesty bill,” said Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla. “We’re talking about people who came into this country illegally, regardless of age.”

Disagreements over the DREAM Act crossed party lines. Sen. Mel Martinez, R-Fla., worked with Durbin and Sen. Ken Salazar, D-Colo., to persuade Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, to back the bill. Hutchison announced she’d back the DREAM Act if Durbin agreed to let her add an amendment tightening its provisions. “I think there is a compassionate reason for us to try to work this out,” said Hutchinson, one of 12 Republicans who voted for the bill.

The potential DREAM Act beneficiaries who listened to the debate from the Senate gallery remained upbeat.

“I’m still hopeful. I know something has to happen,” said Marie Gonzalez, a political science major at Westminster College in Missouri.

Gonzalez said it was “tough” hearing the bill described as amnesty for illegal immigrants. “It’s hard for me to listen and be categorized that way,” Gonzalez said. “If you could just meet me, maybe you can change your mind.”

How senators voted

Here’s how senators voted Wednesday on whether to consider the DREAM Act.

Sixty “yes” votes were needed to bring the bill to the floor:

Voted ‘Yes’ (52)

Democrats (38)

Daniel Akaka, Hawaii; Evan Bayh, Ind.;

Joseph Biden, Del.; Jeff Bingaman, N.M.; Sherrod Brown, Ohio; Maria Cantwell, Wash.; Benjamin Cardin, Md.; Tom Carper, Del.; Robert Casey, Pa.; Hillary Rodham

Clinton, N.Y.; Dick Durbin, Ill.; Russ Feingold, Wis.; Dianne Feinstein, Calif.; Tom Harkin, Iowa; Daniel Inouye, Hawaii; Tim Johnson, S.D.; John Kerry, Mass.; Amy Klobuchar, Minn.; Herb Kohl, Wis.; Frank Lautenberg, N.J.; Patrick Leahy, Vt.; Carl Levin, Mich.; Blanche Lincoln, Ark.; Robert Menendez, N.J.; Barbara Mikulski, Md.; Patty Murray, Wash.; Ben Nelson, Neb.; Bill Nelson, Fla.; Barack Obama, Ill.; Jack Reed, R.I.; Harry Reid, Nev.; Jay Rockefeller, W.Va.;

Ken Salazar, Colo.; Charles Schumer, N.Y.; Debbie Stabenow, Mich.; Jim Webb, Va.; Sheldon Whitehouse, R.I.; Ron Wyden, Ore.

Republicans (12)

Bob Bennett, Utah; Sam Brownback, Kan.; Norm Coleman, Minn.; Susan Collins, Maine; Larry Craig, Idaho; Chuck Hagel, Neb.; Orrin Hatch, Utah; Kay Bailey Hutchison, Texas; Olympia Snowe, Maine; Trent Lott, Miss.; Richard Lugar, Ind.; Mel Martinez, Fla.

Independents (2)

Joe Lieberman, Conn.; Bernie Sanders, Vt.

Voted ‘No’ (44)

Republicans (36)

Lamar Alexander, Tenn.; Wayne Allard, Colo.; John Barrasso, Wyo.; Kit Bond, Mo.; Jim Bunning, Ky.; Richard Burr, N.C.;

Saxby Chambliss, Ga.; Tom Coburn, Okla.; Thad Cochran, Miss.; Bob Corker, Tenn.; John Cornyn, Texas; Mike Crapo, Idaho;

Jim DeMint, S.C.; Elizabeth Dole, N.C.;

Pete Domenici, N.M.; John Ensign, Nev.; Mike Enzi, Wyo.; Lindsey Graham, S.C.; Chuck Grassley, Iowa; Judd Gregg, N.H.; James Inhofe, Okla.; Johnny Isakson, Ga.;

Jon Kyl, Ariz.; Mitch McConnell, Ky.;

Lisa Murkowski, Alaska; Pat Roberts, Kan.; Jeff Sessions, Ala.; Richard Shelby, Ala.;

Gordon Smith, Ore.; Arlen Specter, Pa.;

Ted Stevens, Alaska; John Sununu, N.H.; John Thune, S.D.; David Vitter, La.;

George Voinovich, Ohio; John Warner, Va.

Democrats (8)

Max Baucus, Mont.; Robert Byrd, W.Va.; Kent Conrad, N.D.; Byron Dorgan, N.D.; Mary Landrieu, La.; Claire McCaskill, Mo.; Mark Pryor, Ark.; Jon Tester, Mont.

Not Voting (4)

Democrats (3)

Barbara Boxer, Calif.; Chris Dodd, Conn.;

Edward Kennedy, Mass.

Republican (1)

John McCain, Ariz.