SourceWatch:Project:Votes on immigration reform (U.S.)
Goal
To record each senator's vote on two important immigration reform votes this year.
For help we enlisted the Drum Major Institute for Public Policy, which selected two votes this year on immigration for its middle class scorecard at theMiddleClass.org. The first was a vote to strip this summer's comprehensive immigration reform bill of its provisions to provide paths to citizenship to undocumented immigrants, leaving only enforcement measures in place (something opposed by DMI). The second was last month's vote to quash the DREAM Act, which would have granted a path to permanent residency for young undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children but would like to attend college or serve in the U.S. military (supported by DMI).
Though the Drum Major Institute provided the bulk of the research and analysis for this participatory project, they're honest researchers and the opinions from those on the opposite side of the issue are included on the main articles on the votes, so this should be informative to all citizens, no matter where they stand on the issue.
How-to
First, if this is your first time editing on SourceWatch/Congresspedia, you can register here, and learn more about the site here (we require registration only to deter vandalism and spam; your email address is not shared with anyone or put on any mailing list). Once you've registered, just click the "log in" link in the far upper-right corner and you'll be able to edit the wiki!
Here's how to do the rest:
- 1. Make sure you're logged-in (see above).
- 2. Open this link (you may want to open it in a new window or tab) and click on your state. There you will see links to the profiles of both your senators. You probably want to open them in new windows so you can cut and paste from here to there.
- 3. Open up these links on the amendment to remove legalization provisions from this summer's comprehensive immigration reform bill and the DREAM Act and jot down how your senators voted on each.
- 4. In both senators' profiles, scroll down until you see the "Record and controversies" section and click the "[edit]" link to the right of it.
- 5. Copy and paste in the following content, making sure to insert your senator's name and vote:
| ===Immigration=== In May 2007, Sen. INSERT LAST NAME voted FOR/AGAINST an amendment to the 2007 comprehensive immigration reform bill that would have stripped it of any paths to citizenship or permanent residency for undocumented immigrants, leaving it largely an immigration-enforcement bill. The amendment was defeated, 29-66. The amendment was opposed by the groups like the [[Leadership Conference on Civil Rights]], the [[AFL-CIO]] and the [[Drum Major Institute for Public Policy]]. {{Main|Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007}} In October 2007, Sen. INSERT LAST NAME voted FOR/AGAINST the DREAM Act, which would have created a path to citizenship and permanent residency for young undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children and are of "good moral character" and attend college or serve in the U.S. military for at least two years. The Senate was blocked from taking up the bill when supporters could only garner 52 of the 60 votes they needed. The bill was supported by groups like the [[Drum Major Institute]], the U.S. Episcopal Conference and the National Parent-Teacher Association. It was opposed by groups like [[NumbersUSA]] and [[VDare]]. {{Main|DREAM Act of 2007}} |
- 6. Insert a brief note in the "Summary" box below the main editing window. Something like "immigration record" is fine - it's just a note for the article's history so other editors can see what's been done to an article.
- 7. Click on the "save page" button.
- 8. That's it, you're done!
Your contribution should look a little like the "Immigration" section below (and if not or for any other question or problem, email Congresspedia Managing Editor Conor Kenny. Now that you've done one of these, make sure to insert the information in your other senator's page as well. If you'd like to also record your senators' votes to confirm President Bush's controversial Attorney General nominee, you can find instructions here. If you'd like to record how your representatives voted on the children's health insurance program, you can find instructions here. Thanks for your help!
Example:
ImmigrationIn May 2007, Sen. Doe voted for an amendment to the 2007 comprehensive immigration reform bill that would have stripped it of any paths to citizenship or permanent residency for undocumented immigrants, leaving it largely an immigration-enforcement bill. The amendment was defeated, 29-66. The amendment was opposed by the groups like the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, the AFL-CIO and the Drum Major Institute for Public Policy.
In October 2007, Sen. Doe voted against the DREAM Act, which would have created a path to citizenship and permanent residency for young undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children and are of "good moral character" and attend college or serve in the U.S. military for at least two years. The Senate was blocked from taking up the bill when supporters could only garner 52 of the 60 votes they needed. The bill was supported by groups like the Drum Major Institute, the U.S. Episcopal Conference and the National Parent-Teacher Association. It was opposed by groups like NumbersUSA and VDare.
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