Senate To Vote Tuesday On Defense Bill

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has scheduled a vote on a defense authorization bill for Tuesday that includes, among other things, a provision to repeal the military’s ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy as well as a measure to put hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants on a pathway to citizenship.

Reid is likely aware that getting the 60 votes needed to pass either measure could be difficult, but understands the positive impact that attaching the two side-bills to the legislation may have for his party. The Nevada Democrat, who isn’t taking for granted his chances of being reelected this fall, hopes the efforts to pass immigration reform don’t go unacknowledged at the polls by the state’s voters, nearly 25% of whom are Hispanic.

Democrats, including Vice President Joe Biden, believe they are close to having the votes necessary to overcome a Republican filibuster on DADT. However, some Republicans have made it clear that they’ll vote ‘no’ if the controversial item is attached. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), an enthusiastic supporter of the military, told the Washington Times earlier this week that he believes Reid is using the defense bill to advance the ““social agenda of the liberal left.”

The DREAM Act has even less support from Republicans despite the fact that it was co-authored in 2001 by one of their own, Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah). The legislation, which aims to put illegal immigrants between the ages of 16-35 on a path toward citizenship, has 39 co-sponsors, all Democrats, and is supported by President Obama.

During a meeting with Hispanic lawmakers at the White House this week, Obama reportedly said he would ask the Senate to hold an up-or-down vote on the measure. According to Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.), the president told the lawmakers he would “leave no stone unturned.”