Reid Promises Votes on DADT, Immigration

Harry Reid is itching for a fight: he’s promising votes on both Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, and the DREAM Act, which offers a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants, by the end of the Senate’s lame-duck session. Reid aides told gay activists yesterday that he and the president were “committed” to bringing a defense authorization bill that included DADT reform to the floor after next week’s Thanksgiving recess.

Republicans blocked both measures earlier this year, when Dems tried to tie both to the defense authorization bill, Politico explains. This time, however, Reid says they’ll vote on the DREAM Act separately. “Last time we sought to bring up this bill, all Republicans blocked our effort, even though many have been supporters of the DREAM Act in the past,” Reid said yesterday, but he hoped things would be different “now that we have a stand-alone version and that political season is over.” (More Harry Reid stories.)