George LeMieux Doesn't Want 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' or DREAM Act Attached to Military Funding Bill

While U.S. Sen. George LeMieux is leaving Washington in a few months, the Sunshine State Republican continues to make more of an impression in the Capitol than most appointed senators.

Opposed to Democrats adding the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors act (DREAM act) to a defense appropriations bill and another attempt to change the militarys dont ask, dont tell on gays being allowed to serve, LeMieux came out swinging on Tuesday, arguing that the measure needed to be stripped of any provisions that had nothing to do with military matters.

One of the things that frustrates the American people most is when lawmakers are not allowed an opportunity to offer amendments to major legislation, said LeMieux, who is rumored to be mulling over a bid to return to the Senate in 2012. This bill is supposed to authorize those programs and projects that help our young men and women fighting around the world to protect our safety and freedom. But instead of letting us work to improve the bill, the majority will not let senators from Florida, Georgia and most anywhere else offer an idea, a proposal or even a single amendment.

Instead of letting the military complete their ongoing review of the implications of repealing don't ask, don't tell, the majority wants to supersede the militarys leaders and act, added LeMieux. Instead of having a full debate on the DREAM act, the majority wants to circumvent the committee process, any potential improvements, and pass it into law. While I am sympathetic to the students impacted by current law, I cannot support consideration of the DREAM act until we have taken substantial and effective measures to secure our borders. The timing of taking up the Dream act just weeks before an election, and as part of the Defense Authorization Act, is transparently political and unfortunate to those students whose expectations have been raised. If the Democrat majority that controls Congress were truly serious about fixing our broken immigration system, I along with many Republicans would join that effort.

This is not the way this Congress should act, concluded LeMieux. This is not the way the process is supposed to work. It is unfair to the American people. It is unfair to the members of the military. What should happen is we should have an ability to bring any amendments forward that are germane to the defense authorization bill and let them rise and fall on their merits.