The Congressional House unveiled a fundamental bill on Wednesday in context with the budget. The $400 billion budget bill is set to cover the federal government’s deficit gap and increase spending for Pentagon and domestic programs in America. Some Democrats like Senate Minority Leader, Chuck Schumer praised the budget as it gave spending for health, drug abuse, and social service programs. The move was despised by pro-DACA immigration loyalists who pointed out that a group of Democrats has abandoned the immigration leverage they had on the budget. One Such activist is Linda Sarsour, a political activist who called out House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Schumer for not attaching immigration legislation as a condition for passing a budget deal.
The dreamer debate is a thorny issue in the American political scene. Majority of the Democrats were against Trump’s annulment of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program constituted by the Obama administration. DACA sought to offer temporary protection to the children brought to America illegally by their guardians. The protection was against deportation. Their stay in the US begins to expire in late March
Nancy Pelosi Marathon Speech
After activists had voiced their disappointment with the content of some Democrat Representatives to back the budget deal, Pelosi, guilt-ridden took to the House and staged an eight-hour record-breaking speech in an attempt to show that she and other Democrats still have the interests of dreamers at hand.
Pelosi delivered her speech while wearing four-inched heels and forwent any breaks to show her resilience on the subject portending that they (Democrats) care. Her speech was mostly based on reading the many letters the dreamers have written to the leaders. Pelosi also quoted from the Bible and Pope Francis while other Democrats showed their support by sitting behind her.
Her speech began at around 10 a.m. and ended at around 6 p.m. where her voice began to quiver due to exhaustion. At her sixth hour, she remarked that the young immigrants are being deported and that they had a chance to make them whole again.
Pelosi’s Parting Shot
It may be evident that the budget accord does not say anything about renewing the DACA program, an aspect that may lead pro-DACA activists to question their leader’s loyalty in protecting American’s interest. What Nancy Pelosi did was to save face amidst accusation of her and other Democrats loyalty towards fighting for the dreamers.
She stated that she will oppose the budget deal unless GOP settled to hold a House vote on helping the Dreamers.
