Not really a dream

Supposedly, Harry Reid is going to put the Dream Act on the agenda of the lame duck session of congress after Thanksgiving. With so many issues that must be addressed like taxes, spending and the debt ceiling, one has to wonder why Reid is choosing this moment to stick in a controversial immigration bill. During the two week lame duck session, Congress has to fund the government or face a shutdown during the first week in December. congress also has to act to prevent an enormous tax increase for all Americans starting January 1, 2011; the Democrats do not yet even have a coherent plan ab out how to handle that problem. In addition, congress has to raise the debt ceiing or the ability of the government to borrow money will end within the next month as well. These are each extremely important.

So Harry Reid is pushing an immigration bill with essentially no chance of success,and he is putting political gain ahead of what is good for the country, indeed, what is necessary for the country. Is the Dream Act at least a good idea? In a nutshell, the Dream Act gives illegals brought here by their parents before they reached age 16 a path to citizenship. At the same time, however, it provides all sorts of benefits for illegals like in state tuition rates for illegals at state universities. One of the paths to citizenship for illegals under the Dream Act is service in the US military. Clearly, any person who enlists in the military and serves this country deserves to move to the head of the line for citizenship. There is no clearer commitment than such service, and the country needs to respond appropriately. On the other hand, attending college, the other path under the Dream Act, is not any reason to let someone jump to the front of the line. In short, the Dream act needs to be reworked in a rational and sensible manner. This cannot be done in a two hour window during a lame duck session. Reid should not bring this bill forward.