Illegal immigrant students and members of the House sued the Senate this week to try to overturn the upper chamber's filibuster rule, arguing that the 60-vote supermajority requirement violates the Constitution and is blocking important legislation such as legalization for illegal immigrants. Separation of Powers, anyone? I don't see how this could possibly proceed but nowadays anything is possible.
If successful, the lawsuit, filed Monday, would rewrite the way the Senate operates -- though courts generally have been reluctant to meddle in internal congressional rules. It would mean the Courts have absolute rule.
Still, the effort mixes two thorny issues in separation of powers and immigration, and is likely to keep the Dream Act at the forefront of the national debate. The bill would legalize illegal immigrant students and young adults who were brought to the U.S. as children and who are seen as among the toughest cases in the immigration debate.
In late 2010, the Dream Act passed the House but was blocked from action by a filibuster in the Senate. The 55-41 vote fell five shy of the 60 needed to overcome a filibuster. More at the link. Beyond boggling. Gobsmacked, I am.
Posted by: Deacon Blues ||
05/16/2012
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