Reid buys time on DREAM vote

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) delayed a vote on the DREAM Act, which would give young immigrants a path to legal status if they attend college or join the military.

The House narrowly passed the measure Wednesday night, with eight Republicans -- most of them not returning to Congress next year -- joining Democrats in the vote. Reid moved to table the Senate version of the bill Thursday so that the body can vote on the House version later. Senate Republicans have vowed to filibuster all legislation before the chamber passes a tax cut deal, so the delay is probably aimed at clearing the way for a tax cut vote to come first. (Though it's possible, of course, that Reid won't bring the bill back up for a vote.)

Director of the National Immigration Forum Ali Noorani tells The Lookout that he is "confident" Sen. Reid will get 60 votes. "This is the worst-case scenario for Senate Republicans," Noorani says, since GOP senators from states with large Hispanic populations will now be forced to vote on the measure after the House has already passed it. Noorani says supporters of his organization, which supports comprehensive immigration reform, put in 40,000 calls to lawmakers Wednesday.

Opponents of the bill, such as Sen. David Vitter (R-La.), say it will provide amnesty to too many people. Republicans also argue that the lame-duck session should only be used for economic legislation. Several swing-vote Republicans like Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison have said they will not support the measure.

(Photo of Reid: AP)