DREAM Act passes the House

Senate outlook less promising

Stockton Vigil for DREAM Act

Stockton CA / Bilingual Weekly

Congress narrowly passed the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act of 2010 —better known as the DREAM Act. The 216-198 vote came Wednesday with both Representatives from the Stockton-Modesto area —Dennis Cardoza (D-Atwater) and Jerry McNerney (D-Pleasanton) voting Yes, Daniel Lungren (R-Gold River) voting No, and George Radanovich (R-Fresno) not present, although he had already stated he was against the bill.

Until this month, the House enjoys a healthy Democratic majority and the approval —although narrow— did not come as a surprise, yet a Senate passage will require 60 votes out of 100, a much more difficult task since there are only 56 Democrat Senators and the Republicans are sworn to oppose it, creating a so-called filibuster —an obstruction by a minority by not allowing enough votes for an absolute majority.

A Senate vote could come as early as tomorrow, Thursday, although it could linger until the next Congress, where the House majority advocating for it will dilute, since by then Republicans will become the new majority.

Related Articles

• House passes DREAM Act (politico.com)
• Dream Act Passes The House (huffingtonpost.com)
• House passes DREAM Act – Politico (news.google.com)
• House passes immigration Dream Act – Los Angeles Times (news.google.com)
• House approves DREAM Act, but passage unlikely in Senate – USA Today (news.google.com)
• D-Day for DREAM Act: Congress Votes (abcnews.go.com)
• House Passes DREAM Act 216-198 (crooksandliars.com)
• DREAM Act passed in the House: 216 – 198 (americablog.com)