Redstate

By Nick Haynes Posted in Congress — Comments (2) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »

I think it speaks for itself:

Sen. Durbin,

I was extraordinarily pleased to see that you had attached the Dream Act to the Defense Authorization Bill. As a former sailor, it is always heartening when Senators keep their amendments germane to the bill, because if there is one place that immigration needs to be considered, it is in the authorization of defense activities for the next year.

It's good to see that Democrats are not acting like Republicans, who tried to get things passed under the cover of night. Thankfully, you and your side of the aisle would never do something like trying to hide legislation in a bill that has nothing to do with the amendment, and then try never to have to address that issue.

It also heartens me that you listened to the will of the people as expressed through their Senators earlier this summer, who overwhelmingly supported immigration reform, and passed the Immigration Reform Acts with a near-unanimous round of support.

Or maybe I'm dreaming that all these things happened. Maybe it saddens me that the second-ranking Democrat would be so underhanded as to try and sneak a bill through Congress that was overwhelmingly shut down earlier this year. Maybe it saddens me that the part of the reform that was most opposed is the part that you and your staff have included. Maybe it would be nice if, for once, our Senators actually had the courage to present their ideas in the open, for everyone to see, and worked towards getting it perfected and passed, rather than through back-alley means and hoping nobody catches it.

Maybe, if you led the way, we might actually begin to see a government that was willing to hold itself accountable to the people, rather than sneaking out of the room and hoping nobody notices that you broke the lamp.

Respectfully,
J. Nicholas Haynes