ROLL CALL: Other family reunification amdts defeated, guestworker sunsets
Ending guestworker after 5 years (Dorgan Amdt):
This is a muuuuch more interesting one - here you see where Democratic members of the bipartisan coalition fall - Kennedy and Kerry, both amongst the most progressive members of the Senate based upon voting records, and Kennedy a liberal lion who is the "go to" guy for labor unions, has voted AGAINST ending a guestworker program that labor vehemently objects to. Innnnteresting...additionally, Kerry's vote indicates he probably doesn't have a hope or thought of running for national office again. Other Dems who voted against this are members of the bipartisan coalition - Feinstein, Cantwell, Salazar. Akaka is definitely going to have to explain this to his constituents and to her supporters, some of whom are unions. Lieberman is a pro-free trade Dem, but will also have to explain this to the unions, including the CT AFLCIO who backed him against Ned Lamont. Sheldon Whitehouse - this is a pretty gutsy vote for a first-term Senator from a very blue state. Lincoln is a Dem in a red state. The immigrant vote should mobilize and clean house with some of these so-called progressive champions (California and Massachusetts, I'm looking at you.)
All the Dem presidential candidates voted yes, except for Dodd who might not have been present on the floor (perhaps at a fundraiser?) And if so, this is still a cowardly move. Not befitting the leadership expected of a president to duck out on such an important issue as immigration.
As for all the Republicans who voted for the bill, I'm not sure - there are some pretty hardcore Republicans up there, not all of whom are voting yes just because they hate the idea of more immigrants entering this country. Could it be that they are strategizing to vote for certain poison pills that might make the coalition fall apart?
The other pro-family reunification amendments (defeated):
YEAH, I'm calling out all you turncoat Democrats, especially the ones who could afford to vote FOR family reunification. As before, pres. candidates in boldface, those voting against party lines starred.
1) Obama's amdt to reinvestigate employment-based immigration after 5 years as opposed to 14.
All presidential candidates voted for family reunification, except Dodd who either wasn't there (lame) or didn't want to take a stand (lame) or wasn't there because he didn't want to take a stand (most likely, and lame.)
All the yes votes were Dems, so let's skip to bashing the Dems who voted no. Cardin and Mikulski of Maryland - both could have voted yes with no problems - Maryland is one of the states with the highest number of immigrants, many of whom are Asian American and who benefited from family reunification. Hell, Mikulski's retiring after this term, she could have voted her conscience.
Carper of Delaware, I don't know what his deal is, since his colleague Biden voted yes. He is a moderate Dem. Pryor and Lincoln are conservative Dems from a red state.
Kennedy, Feinstein, Salazar are part of the bipartisan coalition. Immigrant rights activists in California and Massachusetts should feel incredibly betrayed by their representatives.
2) Clinton Amdt. No. 1183, As Further Modified; To reclassify the spouses and minor children of lawful permanent residents as immediate relatives.
I'm tired, and brokenhearted. No good reason to be, since everyday Congress doesn't live up to someone's hopes or wishes. This was a pretty straight party vote on the yes side, so I'd just like to ask much ballyhooed grassroots icon Jon Tester - what do you have against reuniting family members? Against reuniting children with their parents and wives with husbands? Same goes for Baucus, Byrd, Carper and Pryor?
Fuck, I mean JOE LIEBERMAN managed to vote the right way, the compassionate way on each and every single one of the pro family amendments. And he's always crying about how he's going to join the Republicans and complete his party-change operation for once and all.
Someone save me, I'm writing from a place of anger and frustration, but I don't understand why our elected Democrats are willing to settle for a bill that is going to be so harmful. Why our community leaders aren't doing more to stand up to this nonsense. Why we as citizens don't raise more of an outcry. Lord, sometimes it feels so lonely. It feels like it did in the early days of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, cold and rainy and miserable, a lone voice.
Mike Honda is opposed to these amendments, and continues doing the right thing and fighting for families and immigrants.
Rep. Honda (CA-15): "As it stands, the Senate immigration bill veers away drastically from our nation’s longstanding tradition of family-based immigration," said Rep. Mike Honda (CA-15), Chair of CAPAC. "I commend Senators Clinton, Dodd, Hagel, Menendez, and Obama, who are taking critical steps to uphold our nation’s commitment to family values in immigration. I urge the Senate to support their amendments throughout the week. Other amendments would dangerously rollback the scant due process protections currently available to immigrants."
Why can't other members of Congress get a spine? There's 20,000 other things I got on my plate, and this is the only thing that engrosses me, that keeps me up at night, that has my stomach tied in knots. I need to find a new job.
| YEAs ---49 | ||
| Baucus (D-MT) Bayh (D-IN) Biden (D-DE) Bingaman (D-NM) Boxer (D-CA) Brown (D-OH) *Bunning (R-KY) Byrd (D-WV) Cardin (D-MD) Casey (D-PA) Clinton (D-NY) Conrad (D-ND) *Corker (R-TN) DeMint (R-SC) *Dole (R-NC) Dorgan (D-ND) Durbin (D-IL) | *Enzi (R-WY) Feingold (D-WI) Harkin (D-IA) *Inhofe (R-OK) Inouye (D-HI) Klobuchar (D-MN) Kohl (D-WI) Landrieu (D-LA) Lautenberg (D-NJ) Leahy (D-VT) Levin (D-MI) McCaskill (D-MO) Menendez (D-NJ) Mikulski (D-MD) Murray (D-WA) Nelson (D-FL) Nelson (D-NE) | Obama (D-IL) Reed (D-RI) Reid (D-NV) Rockefeller (D-WV) Sanders (I-VT) Schumer (D-NY) *Sessions (R-AL) *Shelby (R-AL) Stabenow (D-MI) *Sununu (R-NH) Tester (D-MT) *Thune (R-SD) *Vitter (R-LA) Webb (D-VA) Wyden (D-OR) |
| NAYs ---48 | ||
| *Akaka (D-HI) Alexander (R-TN) Allard (R-CO) Bennett (R-UT) Bond (R-MO) Brownback (R-KS) Burr (R-NC) *Cantwell (D-WA) Carper (D-DE) Chambliss (R-GA) Coburn (R-OK) Cochran (R-MS) Coleman (R-MN) Collins (R-ME) Cornyn (R-TX) Craig (R-ID) | Crapo (R-ID) Domenici (R-NM) Ensign (R-NV) *Feinstein (D-CA) Graham (R-SC) Grassley (R-IA) Gregg (R-NH) Hagel (R-NE) Hatch (R-UT) Hutchison (R-TX) Isakson (R-GA) *Kennedy (D-MA) *Kerry (D-MA) Kyl (R-AZ) *Lieberman (ID-CT) *Lincoln (D-AR) | Lott (R-MS) Lugar (R-IN) Martinez (R-FL) McCain (R-AZ) McConnell (R-KY) Murkowski (R-AK) *Pryor (D-AR) Roberts (R-KS) *Salazar (D-CO) Smith (R-OR) Snowe (R-ME) Specter (R-PA) Stevens (R-AK) Voinovich (R-OH) Warner (R-VA) *Whitehouse (D-RI) |
| Not Voting - 2 | ||
| Dodd (D-CT) | Johnson (D-SD) | |
This is a muuuuch more interesting one - here you see where Democratic members of the bipartisan coalition fall - Kennedy and Kerry, both amongst the most progressive members of the Senate based upon voting records, and Kennedy a liberal lion who is the "go to" guy for labor unions, has voted AGAINST ending a guestworker program that labor vehemently objects to. Innnnteresting...additionally, Kerry's vote indicates he probably doesn't have a hope or thought of running for national office again. Other Dems who voted against this are members of the bipartisan coalition - Feinstein, Cantwell, Salazar. Akaka is definitely going to have to explain this to his constituents and to her supporters, some of whom are unions. Lieberman is a pro-free trade Dem, but will also have to explain this to the unions, including the CT AFLCIO who backed him against Ned Lamont. Sheldon Whitehouse - this is a pretty gutsy vote for a first-term Senator from a very blue state. Lincoln is a Dem in a red state. The immigrant vote should mobilize and clean house with some of these so-called progressive champions (California and Massachusetts, I'm looking at you.)
All the Dem presidential candidates voted yes, except for Dodd who might not have been present on the floor (perhaps at a fundraiser?) And if so, this is still a cowardly move. Not befitting the leadership expected of a president to duck out on such an important issue as immigration.
As for all the Republicans who voted for the bill, I'm not sure - there are some pretty hardcore Republicans up there, not all of whom are voting yes just because they hate the idea of more immigrants entering this country. Could it be that they are strategizing to vote for certain poison pills that might make the coalition fall apart?
The other pro-family reunification amendments (defeated):
YEAH, I'm calling out all you turncoat Democrats, especially the ones who could afford to vote FOR family reunification. As before, pres. candidates in boldface, those voting against party lines starred.
1) Obama's amdt to reinvestigate employment-based immigration after 5 years as opposed to 14.
| YEAs ---42 | ||
| Akaka (D-HI) Baucus (D-MT) Bayh (D-IN) Biden (D-DE) Bingaman (D-NM) Boxer (D-CA) Brown (D-OH) Byrd (D-WV) Cantwell (D-WA) Casey (D-PA) Clinton (D-NY) Conrad (D-ND) Dorgan (D-ND) Durbin (D-IL) | Feingold (D-WI) Hagel (R-NE) Harkin (D-IA) Inouye (D-HI) Kerry (D-MA) Klobuchar (D-MN) Kohl (D-WI) Landrieu (D-LA) Lautenberg (D-NJ) Leahy (D-VT) Levin (D-MI) Lieberman (ID-CT) McCaskill (D-MO) Menendez (D-NJ) | Murray (D-WA) Nelson (D-FL) Nelson (D-NE) Obama (D-IL) Reed (D-RI) Reid (D-NV) Rockefeller (D-WV) Sanders (I-VT) Schumer (D-NY) Stabenow (D-MI) Tester (D-MT) Webb (D-VA) Whitehouse (D-RI) Wyden (D-OR) |
| NAYs ---55 | ||
| Alexander (R-TN) Allard (R-CO) Bennett (R-UT) Bond (R-MO) Brownback (R-KS) Bunning (R-KY) Burr (R-NC) *Cardin (D-MD) *Carper (D-DE) Chambliss (R-GA) Coburn (R-OK) Cochran (R-MS) Coleman (R-MN) Collins (R-ME) Corker (R-TN) Cornyn (R-TX) Craig (R-ID) Crapo (R-ID) DeMint (R-SC) | Dole (R-NC) Domenici (R-NM) Ensign (R-NV) Enzi (R-WY) *Feinstein (D-CA) Graham (R-SC) Grassley (R-IA) Gregg (R-NH) Hatch (R-UT) Hutchison (R-TX) Inhofe (R-OK) Isakson (R-GA) *Kennedy (D-MA) Kyl (R-AZ) Lincoln (D-AR) Lott (R-MS) Lugar (R-IN) Martinez (R-FL) McCain (R-AZ) | McConnell (R-KY) *Mikulski (D-MD) Murkowski (R-AK) *Pryor (D-AR) Roberts (R-KS) *Salazar (D-CO) Sessions (R-AL) Shelby (R-AL) Smith (R-OR) Snowe (R-ME) Specter (R-PA) Stevens (R-AK) Sununu (R-NH) Thune (R-SD) Vitter (R-LA) Voinovich (R-OH) Warner (R-VA) |
| Not Voting - 2 | ||
| Dodd (D-CT) | Johnson (D-SD) | |
All presidential candidates voted for family reunification, except Dodd who either wasn't there (lame) or didn't want to take a stand (lame) or wasn't there because he didn't want to take a stand (most likely, and lame.)
All the yes votes were Dems, so let's skip to bashing the Dems who voted no. Cardin and Mikulski of Maryland - both could have voted yes with no problems - Maryland is one of the states with the highest number of immigrants, many of whom are Asian American and who benefited from family reunification. Hell, Mikulski's retiring after this term, she could have voted her conscience.
Carper of Delaware, I don't know what his deal is, since his colleague Biden voted yes. He is a moderate Dem. Pryor and Lincoln are conservative Dems from a red state.
Kennedy, Feinstein, Salazar are part of the bipartisan coalition. Immigrant rights activists in California and Massachusetts should feel incredibly betrayed by their representatives.
2) Clinton Amdt. No. 1183, As Further Modified; To reclassify the spouses and minor children of lawful permanent residents as immediate relatives.
| YEAs ---44 | ||
| Akaka (D-HI) Bayh (D-IN) Biden (D-DE) Bingaman (D-NM) Boxer (D-CA) Brown (D-OH) Cantwell (D-WA) Cardin (D-MD) Casey (D-PA) Clinton (D-NY) Conrad (D-ND) Dorgan (D-ND) Durbin (D-IL) Feingold (D-WI) Feinstein (D-CA) | Harkin (D-IA) Inouye (D-HI) Kennedy (D-MA) Kerry (D-MA) Klobuchar (D-MN) Kohl (D-WI) Landrieu (D-LA) Lautenberg (D-NJ) Leahy (D-VT) Levin (D-MI) Lieberman (ID-CT) Lincoln (D-AR) McCaskill (D-MO) Menendez (D-NJ) Mikulski (D-MD) | Murray (D-WA) Nelson (D-FL) Nelson (D-NE) Obama (D-IL) Reed (D-RI) Reid (D-NV) Rockefeller (D-WV) Salazar (D-CO) Sanders (I-VT) Schumer (D-NY) Stabenow (D-MI) Webb (D-VA) Whitehouse (D-RI) Wyden (D-OR) |
| NAYs ---53 | ||
| Alexander (R-TN) Allard (R-CO) *Baucus (D-MT) Bennett (R-UT) Bond (R-MO) Brownback (R-KS) Bunning (R-KY) Burr (R-NC) *Byrd (D-WV) *Carper (D-DE) Chambliss (R-GA) Coburn (R-OK) Cochran (R-MS) Coleman (R-MN) Collins (R-ME) Corker (R-TN) Cornyn (R-TX) Craig (R-ID) | Crapo (R-ID) DeMint (R-SC) Dole (R-NC) Domenici (R-NM) Ensign (R-NV) Enzi (R-WY) Graham (R-SC) Grassley (R-IA) Gregg (R-NH) Hagel (R-NE) Hatch (R-UT) Hutchison (R-TX) Inhofe (R-OK) Isakson (R-GA) Kyl (R-AZ) Lott (R-MS) Lugar (R-IN) Martinez (R-FL) | McCain (R-AZ) McConnell (R-KY) Murkowski (R-AK) *Pryor (D-AR) Roberts (R-KS) Sessions (R-AL) Shelby (R-AL) Smith (R-OR) Snowe (R-ME) Specter (R-PA) Stevens (R-AK) Sununu (R-NH) *Tester (D-MT) Thune (R-SD) Vitter (R-LA) Voinovich (R-OH) Warner (R-VA) |
| Not Voting - 2 | ||
| Dodd (D-CT) | Johnson (D-SD) | |
I'm tired, and brokenhearted. No good reason to be, since everyday Congress doesn't live up to someone's hopes or wishes. This was a pretty straight party vote on the yes side, so I'd just like to ask much ballyhooed grassroots icon Jon Tester - what do you have against reuniting family members? Against reuniting children with their parents and wives with husbands? Same goes for Baucus, Byrd, Carper and Pryor?
Fuck, I mean JOE LIEBERMAN managed to vote the right way, the compassionate way on each and every single one of the pro family amendments. And he's always crying about how he's going to join the Republicans and complete his party-change operation for once and all.
Someone save me, I'm writing from a place of anger and frustration, but I don't understand why our elected Democrats are willing to settle for a bill that is going to be so harmful. Why our community leaders aren't doing more to stand up to this nonsense. Why we as citizens don't raise more of an outcry. Lord, sometimes it feels so lonely. It feels like it did in the early days of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, cold and rainy and miserable, a lone voice.
Mike Honda is opposed to these amendments, and continues doing the right thing and fighting for families and immigrants.
Rep. Honda (CA-15): "As it stands, the Senate immigration bill veers away drastically from our nation’s longstanding tradition of family-based immigration," said Rep. Mike Honda (CA-15), Chair of CAPAC. "I commend Senators Clinton, Dodd, Hagel, Menendez, and Obama, who are taking critical steps to uphold our nation’s commitment to family values in immigration. I urge the Senate to support their amendments throughout the week. Other amendments would dangerously rollback the scant due process protections currently available to immigrants."
Why can't other members of Congress get a spine? There's 20,000 other things I got on my plate, and this is the only thing that engrosses me, that keeps me up at night, that has my stomach tied in knots. I need to find a new job.
Labels: family reunification, immigration reform, Roll Call
posted by powerpolitics @ 10:44 PM
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