Ad

Facts

ANGLE: I’m Sharron Angle and I approve this message

On Screen: Sharron Angle for U.S. Senate

ANNCR: Harry Reid voted to give special tax breaks to illegal aliens.

On Screen: HARRY REID VOTED TO GIVE SPECIAL TAX BREAKS

On Screen: ILLEGAL ALIENS

FACT: REID HAS NEVER VOTED TO GIVE “SPECIAL TAX BREAKS” TO PEOPLE HERE ILLEGALLY 

Reid Didn’t Vote To Give Immigrants Here Illegally Any “Special Tax Breaks.” He voted against denying immigrants coming out of the shadows, getting right with the law and paying back taxes they owe the government the tax deductions and credits already in the tax code. [Vote 192, 6/6/07; Vote 155, 5/25/06; Vote 191, 6/6/07; Vote 154, 5/25/06] 

Senator Reid’s Amendment Made It Clear That People Here Illegally Would NOT Be Eligible For The EITC, And Even Senator Sessions Admitted That The Only People Who Would Get It Would Be Those Whose Status Was Legalized By Obtaining Probationary Visas Under Comprehensive Reform:

Mr. REID. Mr. President, the earned-income tax credit is an important program that benefits low-income workers with children who are legally working in this country. Those working illegally in this country are ineligible for the earned-income tax credit. This amendment makes it perfectly clear that nothing in the bill changes the prohibition of an illegal alien’s access to the earned-income tax credit. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment […]

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, this is not a cover vote. It is not a cover vote at all. It leaves the bill exactly as it was. The problem with the legislation is that those people who are today illegal and would be made legal through the probationary status visa or the Z visa would be entitled to receive the earned-income tax credit, which is, on average, nearly $1,800 per recipient. That earned-income tax credit is a direct payment from the taxpayers of America. This amendment--unlike the vote you cast last year when I raised it--would allow the earned-income tax credit when you get a green card but not when you are on a Z visa or probationary visa. So this is less far-reaching than the amendment I offered last year.” [Congressional Record, 6/6/07]

Senator McCain Criticized Sen. Sessions’ 2006 EITC Amendment: “We have before us another amendment that says legal workers under this bill must play by our rules--by our laws--but they will not be allowed to live by those same rules. I know that my colleagues know that illegal immigrants are ineligible for the earned-income tax credit. The legislation before us does not change that fact. But this amendment incredibly--incredibly--would deny the earned-income tax credit to taxpayers who will be working in this country legally as a result of this legislation. Remarkable.   I want to point out again, it would deny an important tax credit to some low-income workers who have legal status who are playing by the rules, meeting all the requirements of the legislation, who might otherwise be eligible for the earned-income tax credit … The legislation is designed, rightly, to ensure that legalized workers and new guest workers would largely be taxed in the same manner as U.S. citizens. If they have attained a legal status, then clearly they should pay the taxes. They would pay payroll taxes, income taxes, excise taxes. They would pay back taxes for the period of time they had been working in this country prior to the enactment of this bill. Payment of back taxes is a very important part of this bill.” [Congressional Record, 5/25/06] 

Senator Kennedy Called Ensign’s 2006 Amendment “an incredibly harsh penalty to impose on these families. The Ensign amendment would impose a special punitive Tax Code on immigrants who were once undocumented, making them pay higher taxes than anyone else with comparable incomes, denying them the basic right to a refund of their own money when the employer withholds more than they owe.” [Congressional Record, 5/25/06]

Senate Republicans Sharron Angle Is Falsely Accusing Of Voting To Give “Special Tax Breaks” To People In The US Illegally In 2006:

Sam Brownback (R-KS)

Mike DeWine (R-OH)

Pete Domenici (R-NM)

Lindsey Graham (R-SC)

Richard Lugar (R-IN)
Mel Martinez (R-FL),
John McCain (R-AZ)

Greorge Voinovich (R-OH)

John Warner (R-VA) [Vote 155, 5/25/06]

Senate Republicans Sharron Angle Is Falsely Accusing Of Voting To Give “Special Tax Breaks” To People In The US Illegally In 2007:

Lamar Alexander (R-TN)

Sam Brownback (R-KS)
Norm Coleman (R-MN)
Susan Collins (R-ME)

Mike Crapo (R-ID)

Mike DeWine (R-OH)

Pete Domenici (R-NM)

Lindsey Graham (R-SC)
Chuck Hagel (R-NE)

Richard Lugar (R-IN)
Mel Martinez (R-FL)

John McCain (R-AZ)

Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)

Rick Santorum (R-PA)

Gordon Smith (R-OR)
Olympis Snowe (R-ME)

Ted Stevens (R-AK)
George Voinovich (R-OH)
John Warner (R-VA) [Vote 154, 6/6/07]

ANNCR: And Harry Reid voted to give Social Security benefits to illegals, even for the time they were here illegally.

On Screen: HARRY REID VOTED TO GIVE SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS

On Screen: TO ILLEGALS / EVEN FOR THE TIME THEY WERE HERE ILLEGALLY

FACT: REID DIDN’T VOTE “TO GIVE ILLEGAL’S SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS EVEN FOR THE TIME THEY WERE HERE ILLEGALLY.” CURRENT LAW ALREADY ALLOWS IT IF AND ONLY IF THE WORKER OBTAINS LEGAL STATUS.

Reid Opposes Giving Social Security Benefits To People In The Country Illegally, Wants Current Prohibitions On Giving Social Security benefits To People Here Illegally Strictly Enforced. In August 2006, Reid introduced a resolution declaring, “That it is the sense of the Senate that illegal immigrants should not receive Social Security benefits and that this prohibition should be strictly enforced.” [S Res 551, Introduced 8/3/06]

Reid Voted To Prohibit Processing Social Security Claims For Work Done Illegally. In October 2007, Reid voted for an amendment to a spending bill that prohibited funding in the bill from being used to process Social Security for work done under a false Social Security number. [Vote 388, 10/23/07]

Non-Partisan Fact-Checkers Have Already Debunked Angle’s Social Security Attack; Current Law Already Allows Workers Who Were Here Illegally And Legalized Their Status To Collect Social Security Benefits They Had Paid Into The System While Illegal, But Does Not Grant Them Any Special Status. In n October 2006 post de-bunking “Twenty-nine ads and counting [featuring] the claim with varying levels of truth and distortion,” FactCheck.org wrote, “Republicans are tagging Democratic opponents across the country for wanting to ‘give Social Security benefits to illegal immigrants.’ But nobody’s proposing paying benefits to illegals, not until and unless they become US citizens or are granted legal status … Current law allows an immigrant to receive credit for future Social Security benefits for work done while they were illegal – so long as they eventually obtain authorization to work and a valid Social Security number. The amendment was offered by Sen. John Ensign of Nevada and would have prohibited any credit for work done without permission, even if an immigrant later gains legal status or becomes a citizen.” In July 2009, PolitiFact called it “a specious campaign attack back in 2006.” [FactCheck.org, 10/11/06; PolitiFact, 7/14/09]

McCain: 2006 Amendment He And Reid Opposed Would Make People We’re Trying To Bring Out Of The Shadows Ineligible For The Same Benefits Of Citizenship They Would Have To Earn. In a May 2006 floor speech, John McCain defended his opposition to Senator Ensign’s Amendment to clange existing Social Security law, saying, “The fact is that when these people came here, of course, they accepted--because they came here illegally and broke our laws--of course, they accepted the fact that they probably wouldn’t get Social Security or Medicare or protection of our laws against exploitation and mistreatment and all of the protections that citizens have. We are trying to give them a path to earn that. Yet under the Senator’s amendment, they would be ineligible for the same benefit of citizenship which we, under this legislation, are trying to make them earn.” [Vote 130, 5/18/06; Congressional, Record, 5/18/06]

During the 2008 campaign, John McCain defended his immigration record, saying, in part, “nor would I ever and have never supported Social Security benefits for people who are in this country illegally, that is absolutely false.” [Associated Press, 1/5/08]

Senate Republicans Angle Is Falsely Accusing Of Having Voted To Give Social Security Benefits To People In The US Illegally In 2006:

Sam Brownback (R-KS)

Mike DeWine (R-OH)

Lindsey Graham (R-SC)

Chuck Hagel (R-NE)

Richard Lugar (R-IN)

Mel Martinez (R-FL)
John McCain (R-AZ)

Ted Stevens (R-AK)

George Voinovich (R-OH) [Vote 130, 5/18/06]

Senate Republicans Angle Is Falsely Accusing Of Having Voted To Give Social Security Benefits To People In The US Illegally In 2007:

Chuck Hagel (R-NE)

Richard Lugar (R-IN)

Voinovich (R-OH) [Vote 263, 7/19/07]

ANNCR: And now Harry Reid is fighting for a program that would give preferred college tuition rates to none other than illegal aliens. Using your money to pay for it, leading to the simple question, What does Harry Reid have against you?

On Screen: HARRY REID IS FIGHTING FOR A PROGRAM

On Screen: PREFERRED COLLEGE TUITION RATES

On Screen: ILLEGAL ALIENS

On Screen: USING YOUR MONEY TO PAY FOR IT

On Screen: LEADING TO A SIMPLE QUESTION

On Screen: WHAT DOES HARRY REID HAVE AGAINST YOU?

On Screen: Paid for by friends of Sharron Angle.  Approved By Sharron Angle

FACT: THE DREAM ACT IS NOT AMNESTY FOR PEOPLE WHO WILLFULLY BROKE THE LAW. In a September 2010 editorial, the Los Angeles Times reported, “The DREAM Act should not be controversial; it does not grant “amnesty” or reward people who broke immigration laws. Rather, it acknowledges that thousands of promising young people are not to blame for the misdeeds of their parents. Furthermore, its passage is clearly in the economic interest of the country. All children in the U.S. are entitled to a public K-12 education (worth roughly $113,568 per child in California), and given this significant investment, it makes little fiscal sense to foreclose further opportunity for young illegal immigrants just when they are poised to repay the society that nurtured them. Of all the nation’s immigrants, these students and military veterans should be welcomed into the community of citizenship. Raised in the U.S., educated in U.S. schools and acculturated to U.S. society, they have deep roots here and no allegiance elsewhere. And it is to everyone’s advantage that they become gainfully employed future taxpayers instead of struggling laborers. Workers with a bachelor’s degree far out-earn those without one, garnering an average of $1 million more in income over their working lifetime, according to the U.S. Census, and paying a heftier share of taxes.” [Los Angeles Times, Editorial, 9/20/10]

FACT: THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT SUPPORTS THE DREAM ACT. According to the Wall Street Journal, “Pentagon officials support the Dream Act. In its strategic plan for fiscal years 2010-2012, the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness cited the Dream Act as a ‘smart’ way to attract quality recruits to the all-volunteer force.” [Wall Street Journal, 9/18/10]

FACT: THE DREAM ACT DOES NOT GIVE SPECIAL TUITION RATES TO PEOPLE HERE ILLEGALLY. IT ALLOWS YOUNG PEOPLE WHO OBTAIN LEGAL STATUS TO ATTEND COLLEGE AND RECEIVE IN-STATE TUITION IF AND ONLY IF THE STATE THEY LIVE IN ALLOWS IT.

AASCU: The DREAM Act And Similar Bills “Would Make It Easier For States To Charge In-State Tuition Rates To Undocumented Students, But They Would Not Require States To Do So.” In August 2007, the American Association of State Colleges and Universities wrote, “Bills have been introduced in Congress that would make it easier for states to charge in-state tuition rates to undocumented students, but they would not require states to do so. If enacted, such legislation would clarify the legal ambiguities but would not end debate in statehouses. First introduced in the Senate in 2001 and later made part of the Senate’s Comprehensive Immigration Reform Acts of 2006 and 2007, the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act would provide a path for immigrant children to obtain legal status and allow states to offer them in-state tuition and financial aid.” [American Association of State Colleges and Universities, August 2007]

FACT: THE DREAM ACT HAS ENJOYED SUPPORT FROM SOME OF THE SENATE’S MOST CONSERVATIVE MEMBERS

Senate Republicans Angle Is Accusing Of Supporting “Amnesty” Through The DREAM Act In 2009:

Richard Lugar, R-IN

Mel Martinez, R-FL [S 729, Introduced 3/26/09]

Senate Republicans Angle Is Accusing Of Supporting “Amnesty” Through The DREAM Act In 2007:

Mike Crapo, R-ID

Chuck Hagel, R-NE

Richard Lugar, R-IN

John McCain, R-AZ [S 774, Introduced 3/6/07]

Senate Republicans Angle Is Accusing Of Supporting “Amnesty” Through The DREAM Act In 2005:

Norm Coleman, R-MN

Susan Collins, R-ME

Mike Crapo, R-ID

Mike DeWine, R-OH

Chuck Hagel, R-NE

Richard Lugar, R-IN [S 2075, Introduced 11/8/05]

Senate Republicans Angle Is Accusing Of Supporting “Amnesty” Through The DREAM Act In 2003:

Orrin Hatch, R-UT

Sam Brownback, R-KS

Norm Coleman, R-MN

Susan Collins, R-ME

Mike Crapo, R-ID

Mike DeWine, R-OH

Chuck Grassley, R-IA

Chuck Hagel, R-NE

Richard Lugar, R-IN

John McCain, R-AZ [S 1545, Introduced, 7/31/03]

Senate Republicans Angle Is Accusing Of Supporting “Amnesty” Through The DREAM Act In 2001:

Orrin Hatch, R-UT

Sam Brownback, R-KS

Mike DeWine, R-OH

Pete Domenici, R-MN

Chuck Grassley, R-IA

Richard Lugar, R-IN [S 1291, Introduced 8/1/01]

The US Conference Of Catholic Bishops Support The DREAM Act. In an April 2009 letter, the US Conference of Catholic Bishops wrote, “On behalf of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), I write to express our support for S. 729, the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act (DREAM Act). This legislation would make a difference in the lives of undocumented youth who were brought to the United States by their parents and now, because of their lack of legal status, face obstacles to their future. By removing such barriers, the DREAM Act permits immigrant students to pursue a promising future through college education or military service. Those who would benefit from the DREAM Act are talented, intelligent, and dedicated young persons who know only the United States as their home. They can become some of the future leaders of our country, provided we are wise enough to provide them the opportunity to pursue their dreams … This bill also offers students a fair opportunity to earn U.S. citizenship if they commit to and complete at least two years of college or two years of honorable service in the military … It is important to note that these young persons entered the United States with their parents at a young age, and therefore did not enter without inspection on their own volition. The DREAM Act represents a practical, fair, and compassionate solution for thousands of young persons in our nation who simply want to reach their God-given potential and contribute to the well-being of our nation.” [US Conference of Catholic Bishops, 4/6/09 (emphasis added)]

Ad

Facts

ANGLE: I’m Sharron Angle and I approve this message

On Screen: Sharron Angle for U.S. Senate

ANNCR: Harry Reid voted to give special tax breaks to illegal aliens.

On Screen: HARRY REID VOTED TO GIVE SPECIAL TAX BREAKS

On Screen: ILLEGAL ALIENS

FACT: REID HAS NEVER VOTED TO GIVE “SPECIAL TAX BREAKS” TO PEOPLE HERE ILLEGALLY 

Reid Didn’t Vote To Give Immigrants Here Illegally Any “Special Tax Breaks.” He voted against denying immigrants coming out of the shadows, getting right with the law and paying back taxes they owe the government the tax deductions and credits already in the tax code. [Vote 192, 6/6/07; Vote 155, 5/25/06; Vote 191, 6/6/07; Vote 154, 5/25/06] 

Senator Reid’s Amendment Made It Clear That People Here Illegally Would NOT Be Eligible For The EITC, And Even Senator Sessions Admitted That The Only People Who Would Get It Would Be Those Whose Status Was Legalized By Obtaining Probationary Visas Under Comprehensive Reform:

Mr. REID. Mr. President, the earned-income tax credit is an important program that benefits low-income workers with children who are legally working in this country. Those working illegally in this country are ineligible for the earned-income tax credit. This amendment makes it perfectly clear that nothing in the bill changes the prohibition of an illegal alien’s access to the earned-income tax credit. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment […]

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, this is not a cover vote. It is not a cover vote at all. It leaves the bill exactly as it was. The problem with the legislation is that those people who are today illegal and would be made legal through the probationary status visa or the Z visa would be entitled to receive the earned-income tax credit, which is, on average, nearly $1,800 per recipient. That earned-income tax credit is a direct payment from the taxpayers of America. This amendment--unlike the vote you cast last year when I raised it--would allow the earned-income tax credit when you get a green card but not when you are on a Z visa or probationary visa. So this is less far-reaching than the amendment I offered last year.” [Congressional Record, 6/6/07]

Senator McCain Criticized Sen. Sessions’ 2006 EITC Amendment: “We have before us another amendment that says legal workers under this bill must play by our rules--by our laws--but they will not be allowed to live by those same rules. I know that my colleagues know that illegal immigrants are ineligible for the earned-income tax credit. The legislation before us does not change that fact. But this amendment incredibly--incredibly--would deny the earned-income tax credit to taxpayers who will be working in this country legally as a result of this legislation. Remarkable.   I want to point out again, it would deny an important tax credit to some low-income workers who have legal status who are playing by the rules, meeting all the requirements of the legislation, who might otherwise be eligible for the earned-income tax credit … The legislation is designed, rightly, to ensure that legalized workers and new guest workers would largely be taxed in the same manner as U.S. citizens. If they have attained a legal status, then clearly they should pay the taxes. They would pay payroll taxes, income taxes, excise taxes. They would pay back taxes for the period of time they had been working in this country prior to the enactment of this bill. Payment of back taxes is a very important part of this bill.” [Congressional Record, 5/25/06] 

Senator Kennedy Called Ensign’s 2006 Amendment “an incredibly harsh penalty to impose on these families. The Ensign amendment would impose a special punitive Tax Code on immigrants who were once undocumented, making them pay higher taxes than anyone else with comparable incomes, denying them the basic right to a refund of their own money when the employer withholds more than they owe.” [Congressional Record, 5/25/06]

Senate Republicans Sharron Angle Is Falsely Accusing Of Voting To Give “Special Tax Breaks” To People In The US Illegally In 2006:

Sam Brownback (R-KS)

Mike DeWine (R-OH)

Pete Domenici (R-NM)

Lindsey Graham (R-SC)

Richard Lugar (R-IN)
Mel Martinez (R-FL),
John McCain (R-AZ)

Greorge Voinovich (R-OH)

John Warner (R-VA) [Vote 155, 5/25/06]

Senate Republicans Sharron Angle Is Falsely Accusing Of Voting To Give “Special Tax Breaks” To People In The US Illegally In 2007:

Lamar Alexander (R-TN)

Sam Brownback (R-KS)
Norm Coleman (R-MN)
Susan Collins (R-ME)

Mike Crapo (R-ID)

Mike DeWine (R-OH)

Pete Domenici (R-NM)

Lindsey Graham (R-SC)
Chuck Hagel (R-NE)

Richard Lugar (R-IN)
Mel Martinez (R-FL)

John McCain (R-AZ)

Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)

Rick Santorum (R-PA)

Gordon Smith (R-OR)
Olympis Snowe (R-ME)

Ted Stevens (R-AK)
George Voinovich (R-OH)
John Warner (R-VA) [Vote 154, 6/6/07]

ANNCR: And Harry Reid voted to give Social Security benefits to illegals, even for the time they were here illegally.

On Screen: HARRY REID VOTED TO GIVE SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS

On Screen: TO ILLEGALS / EVEN FOR THE TIME THEY WERE HERE ILLEGALLY

FACT: REID DIDN’T VOTE “TO GIVE ILLEGAL’S SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS EVEN FOR THE TIME THEY WERE HERE ILLEGALLY.” CURRENT LAW ALREADY ALLOWS IT IF AND ONLY IF THE WORKER OBTAINS LEGAL STATUS.

Reid Opposes Giving Social Security Benefits To People In The Country Illegally, Wants Current Prohibitions On Giving Social Security benefits To People Here Illegally Strictly Enforced. In August 2006, Reid introduced a resolution declaring, “That it is the sense of the Senate that illegal immigrants should not receive Social Security benefits and that this prohibition should be strictly enforced.” [S Res 551, Introduced 8/3/06]

Reid Voted To Prohibit Processing Social Security Claims For Work Done Illegally. In October 2007, Reid voted for an amendment to a spending bill that prohibited funding in the bill from being used to process Social Security for work done under a false Social Security number. [Vote 388, 10/23/07]

Non-Partisan Fact-Checkers Have Already Debunked Angle’s Social Security Attack; Current Law Already Allows Workers Who Were Here Illegally And Legalized Their Status To Collect Social Security Benefits They Had Paid Into The System While Illegal, But Does Not Grant Them Any Special Status. In n October 2006 post de-bunking “Twenty-nine ads and counting [featuring] the claim with varying levels of truth and distortion,” FactCheck.org wrote, “Republicans are tagging Democratic opponents across the country for wanting to ‘give Social Security benefits to illegal immigrants.’ But nobody’s proposing paying benefits to illegals, not until and unless they become US citizens or are granted legal status … Current law allows an immigrant to receive credit for future Social Security benefits for work done while they were illegal – so long as they eventually obtain authorization to work and a valid Social Security number. The amendment was offered by Sen. John Ensign of Nevada and would have prohibited any credit for work done without permission, even if an immigrant later gains legal status or becomes a citizen.” In July 2009, PolitiFact called it “a specious campaign attack back in 2006.” [FactCheck.org, 10/11/06; PolitiFact, 7/14/09]

McCain: 2006 Amendment He And Reid Opposed Would Make People We’re Trying To Bring Out Of The Shadows Ineligible For The Same Benefits Of Citizenship They Would Have To Earn. In a May 2006 floor speech, John McCain defended his opposition to Senator Ensign’s Amendment to clange existing Social Security law, saying, “The fact is that when these people came here, of course, they accepted--because they came here illegally and broke our laws--of course, they accepted the fact that they probably wouldn’t get Social Security or Medicare or protection of our laws against exploitation and mistreatment and all of the protections that citizens have. We are trying to give them a path to earn that. Yet under the Senator’s amendment, they would be ineligible for the same benefit of citizenship which we, under this legislation, are trying to make them earn.” [Vote 130, 5/18/06; Congressional, Record, 5/18/06]

During the 2008 campaign, John McCain defended his immigration record, saying, in part, “nor would I ever and have never supported Social Security benefits for people who are in this country illegally, that is absolutely false.” [Associated Press, 1/5/08]

Senate Republicans Angle Is Falsely Accusing Of Having Voted To Give Social Security Benefits To People In The US Illegally In 2006:

Sam Brownback (R-KS)

Mike DeWine (R-OH)

Lindsey Graham (R-SC)

Chuck Hagel (R-NE)

Richard Lugar (R-IN)

Mel Martinez (R-FL)
John McCain (R-AZ)

Ted Stevens (R-AK)

George Voinovich (R-OH) [Vote 130, 5/18/06]

Senate Republicans Angle Is Falsely Accusing Of Having Voted To Give Social Security Benefits To People In The US Illegally In 2007:

Chuck Hagel (R-NE)

Richard Lugar (R-IN)

Voinovich (R-OH) [Vote 263, 7/19/07]

ANNCR: And now Harry Reid is fighting for a program that would give preferred college tuition rates to none other than illegal aliens. Using your money to pay for it, leading to the simple question, What does Harry Reid have against you?

On Screen: HARRY REID IS FIGHTING FOR A PROGRAM

On Screen: PREFERRED COLLEGE TUITION RATES

On Screen: ILLEGAL ALIENS

On Screen: USING YOUR MONEY TO PAY FOR IT

On Screen: LEADING TO A SIMPLE QUESTION

On Screen: WHAT DOES HARRY REID HAVE AGAINST YOU?

On Screen: Paid for by friends of Sharron Angle.  Approved By Sharron Angle

FACT: THE DREAM ACT IS NOT AMNESTY FOR PEOPLE WHO WILLFULLY BROKE THE LAW. In a September 2010 editorial, the Los Angeles Times reported, “The DREAM Act should not be controversial; it does not grant “amnesty” or reward people who broke immigration laws. Rather, it acknowledges that thousands of promising young people are not to blame for the misdeeds of their parents. Furthermore, its passage is clearly in the economic interest of the country. All children in the U.S. are entitled to a public K-12 education (worth roughly $113,568 per child in California), and given this significant investment, it makes little fiscal sense to foreclose further opportunity for young illegal immigrants just when they are poised to repay the society that nurtured them. Of all the nation’s immigrants, these students and military veterans should be welcomed into the community of citizenship. Raised in the U.S., educated in U.S. schools and acculturated to U.S. society, they have deep roots here and no allegiance elsewhere. And it is to everyone’s advantage that they become gainfully employed future taxpayers instead of struggling laborers. Workers with a bachelor’s degree far out-earn those without one, garnering an average of $1 million more in income over their working lifetime, according to the U.S. Census, and paying a heftier share of taxes.” [Los Angeles Times, Editorial, 9/20/10]

FACT: THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT SUPPORTS THE DREAM ACT. According to the Wall Street Journal, “Pentagon officials support the Dream Act. In its strategic plan for fiscal years 2010-2012, the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness cited the Dream Act as a ‘smart’ way to attract quality recruits to the all-volunteer force.” [Wall Street Journal, 9/18/10]

FACT: THE DREAM ACT DOES NOT GIVE SPECIAL TUITION RATES TO PEOPLE HERE ILLEGALLY. IT ALLOWS YOUNG PEOPLE WHO OBTAIN LEGAL STATUS TO ATTEND COLLEGE AND RECEIVE IN-STATE TUITION IF AND ONLY IF THE STATE THEY LIVE IN ALLOWS IT.

AASCU: The DREAM Act And Similar Bills “Would Make It Easier For States To Charge In-State Tuition Rates To Undocumented Students, But They Would Not Require States To Do So.” In August 2007, the American Association of State Colleges and Universities wrote, “Bills have been introduced in Congress that would make it easier for states to charge in-state tuition rates to undocumented students, but they would not require states to do so. If enacted, such legislation would clarify the legal ambiguities but would not end debate in statehouses. First introduced in the Senate in 2001 and later made part of the Senate’s Comprehensive Immigration Reform Acts of 2006 and 2007, the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act would provide a path for immigrant children to obtain legal status and allow states to offer them in-state tuition and financial aid.” [American Association of State Colleges and Universities, August 2007]

FACT: THE DREAM ACT HAS ENJOYED SUPPORT FROM SOME OF THE SENATE’S MOST CONSERVATIVE MEMBERS

Senate Republicans Angle Is Accusing Of Supporting “Amnesty” Through The DREAM Act In 2009:

Richard Lugar, R-IN

Mel Martinez, R-FL [S 729, Introduced 3/26/09]

Senate Republicans Angle Is Accusing Of Supporting “Amnesty” Through The DREAM Act In 2007:

Mike Crapo, R-ID

Chuck Hagel, R-NE

Richard Lugar, R-IN

John McCain, R-AZ [S 774, Introduced 3/6/07]

Senate Republicans Angle Is Accusing Of Supporting “Amnesty” Through The DREAM Act In 2005:

Norm Coleman, R-MN

Susan Collins, R-ME

Mike Crapo, R-ID

Mike DeWine, R-OH

Chuck Hagel, R-NE

Richard Lugar, R-IN [S 2075, Introduced 11/8/05]

Senate Republicans Angle Is Accusing Of Supporting “Amnesty” Through The DREAM Act In 2003:

Orrin Hatch, R-UT

Sam Brownback, R-KS

Norm Coleman, R-MN

Susan Collins, R-ME

Mike Crapo, R-ID

Mike DeWine, R-OH

Chuck Grassley, R-IA

Chuck Hagel, R-NE

Richard Lugar, R-IN

John McCain, R-AZ [S 1545, Introduced, 7/31/03]

Senate Republicans Angle Is Accusing Of Supporting “Amnesty” Through The DREAM Act In 2001:

Orrin Hatch, R-UT

Sam Brownback, R-KS

Mike DeWine, R-OH

Pete Domenici, R-MN

Chuck Grassley, R-IA

Richard Lugar, R-IN [S 1291, Introduced 8/1/01]

The US Conference Of Catholic Bishops Support The DREAM Act. In an April 2009 letter, the US Conference of Catholic Bishops wrote, “On behalf of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), I write to express our support for S. 729, the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act (DREAM Act). This legislation would make a difference in the lives of undocumented youth who were brought to the United States by their parents and now, because of their lack of legal status, face obstacles to their future. By removing such barriers, the DREAM Act permits immigrant students to pursue a promising future through college education or military service. Those who would benefit from the DREAM Act are talented, intelligent, and dedicated young persons who know only the United States as their home. They can become some of the future leaders of our country, provided we are wise enough to provide them the opportunity to pursue their dreams … This bill also offers students a fair opportunity to earn U.S. citizenship if they commit to and complete at least two years of college or two years of honorable service in the military … It is important to note that these young persons entered the United States with their parents at a young age, and therefore did not enter without inspection on their own volition. The DREAM Act represents a practical, fair, and compassionate solution for thousands of young persons in our nation who simply want to reach their God-given potential and contribute to the well-being of our nation.” [US Conference of Catholic Bishops, 4/6/09 (emphasis added)]