Student representatives at the University of Maine yesterday spoke publicly in favor of the federal DREAM Act, which would allow undocumented young people to gain citizenship through service in the military or a college education.

The UMaine Student Government pased a resolution on the issue, which reads in part:

We, the members of the General Student Senate of the University of Maine Student Government, Inc., urge the members of the State of Maine Congressional Delegation, Senator Olympia J. Snowe (’69), Senator Susan Collins, Congressman Michael Michaud, and Congresswoman Chellie Pingree to cast their votes in favor of the DREAM Act in the form presented to Congress this year.

Maine Senators Snowe and Collins wield crucial votes on this bill, which was slated to be brought before Congress in the waning days of the lame duck session.

The vote itself is now in jeopardy, however, as Snowe and Collins, along with every other Republican senator, recently signed a letter saying they will filibuster all legislation, regardless of its merits, until the Senate passes renewed tax cuts for all Americans, including the wealthiest in the highest tax brackets. Democrats have been attempting to pass tax cuts only for the middle class and a bill to that effect passed the House yesterday.

This legislative blockade affects not just the DREAM Act, but a host of other legislation, including renewing unemployment benefits for laid-off workers, the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, and the New START nuclear arms reduction treaty with Russia.

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