waitingnwaiting
11-16-2010, 01:35 PM
LA OPINION (Editorial): The time is now!
|2010-11-16 | La Opinión
The time is now! - La Opinión - noticias locales, nacionales e internacionales desde Los Ángeles - impre.com (http://www.impre.com/laopinion/opinion/2010/11/16/the-time-is-now-222571-1.html#commentsBlock)
Democrats return back to a lame-duck Congressional session in which they have a majority in both chambers. This is the moment to make the effort to pass the DREAM Act and open up the path for hundreds of thousands of young people to enter the university or serve in the Armed Forces.
Major legislation on the agenda between now and the end of the year includes making permanent the Bush-era tax cuts, passing the fiscal year 2011 spending bill or at least passing a stopgap measure to continue to fund the government, extending unemployment benefits, and addressing cuts in Medicare payments to doctors.
There are many important issues on the floor and the position that will be taken by the Republicans is still unclear given they will have control of the House of Representatives in two months.
Despite this, we believe the DREAM Act must be added to the mix. In these past two years of Democratic control, the concerted push for comprehensive immigration reform never materialized. At a minimum, during these last weeks of legislative control, they should seek passage of legislation that would allow undocumented high school graduates – who have grown up in the U.S. – to continue their studies or to join the military.
Similar efforts a few months back failed because critics unjustly denounced the bill as an "amnesty," as if these young people were responsible for having been brought to the U.S. by their parents. Other critics charged that the bill would prove to be a magnet for immigrant parents to bring young children here. Such criticism ignores the real reasons for immigration.
This legislative session is filled with dozens of legislators who have either lost their reelection or are planning to retire. They have nothing to lose by doing the right thing and voting for a bill that will help the economy in the short and long term by preparing our country’s future labor force. And, at the same time, they will be strengthening the military.
Political savvy and determination will be needed to pass this legislation. Opportunities exist to attach it to other bills if it appears that it cannot be approved on its own. With so much at stake , the time to act is now!
|2010-11-16 | La Opinión
The time is now! - La Opinión - noticias locales, nacionales e internacionales desde Los Ángeles - impre.com (http://www.impre.com/laopinion/opinion/2010/11/16/the-time-is-now-222571-1.html#commentsBlock)
Democrats return back to a lame-duck Congressional session in which they have a majority in both chambers. This is the moment to make the effort to pass the DREAM Act and open up the path for hundreds of thousands of young people to enter the university or serve in the Armed Forces.
Major legislation on the agenda between now and the end of the year includes making permanent the Bush-era tax cuts, passing the fiscal year 2011 spending bill or at least passing a stopgap measure to continue to fund the government, extending unemployment benefits, and addressing cuts in Medicare payments to doctors.
There are many important issues on the floor and the position that will be taken by the Republicans is still unclear given they will have control of the House of Representatives in two months.
Despite this, we believe the DREAM Act must be added to the mix. In these past two years of Democratic control, the concerted push for comprehensive immigration reform never materialized. At a minimum, during these last weeks of legislative control, they should seek passage of legislation that would allow undocumented high school graduates – who have grown up in the U.S. – to continue their studies or to join the military.
Similar efforts a few months back failed because critics unjustly denounced the bill as an "amnesty," as if these young people were responsible for having been brought to the U.S. by their parents. Other critics charged that the bill would prove to be a magnet for immigrant parents to bring young children here. Such criticism ignores the real reasons for immigration.
This legislative session is filled with dozens of legislators who have either lost their reelection or are planning to retire. They have nothing to lose by doing the right thing and voting for a bill that will help the economy in the short and long term by preparing our country’s future labor force. And, at the same time, they will be strengthening the military.
Political savvy and determination will be needed to pass this legislation. Opportunities exist to attach it to other bills if it appears that it cannot be approved on its own. With so much at stake , the time to act is now!