This week the House of Representatives passed the DREAM Act by a vote of 216 to 198. Here is how the vote broke down:
Illinois Democrats:
All three African-American reps from Illinois, Danny Davis, Bobby Rush, and Jesse Jackson, voted to support the Dream Act. So did lakefront liberals Jan Schakowsky and Mike Quigley, all are Democrats. Suburban and downstate Democrats had been on the fence prior to the vote. Ultimately supporting the Dream Act were Melissa Bean ( who was defeated in November) , Debra Halverson, Phil Foster and Bill Hare.
Two Illinois Democrats broke rank though. 12th district’s Jerry Costello and Dan Lipinski of the 3rd, joined 36 other party members to vote nay.
Costello represents a predominantly white, working class district over the river from St. Louis. In contrast, Lipinski is in a changing area in the city. The 3rd has been slowly becoming Latino. Currently 58 percent white and diminishing, and more than 30 percent Hispanic and growing, the 3rd has tripled its Latino population since 2000.
Illinois Republicans:
All Republican Congressman from Illinois voted against the bill.
Nationwide Republicans:
Only eight Republicans broke ranks and voted in favor of the Dream Act. With the exception of two Cuban-Americans from Florida, Mario Diaz-Balart and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, the remaining six were all lame ducks, including the retiring Lincoln Diaz-Balart (Mario’s brother).
• Mike Castle of Delaware, who was defeated in the GOP primary by Christine O’Donnell;
• Joseph Cao of Louisiana, another lame duck, the first Vietnamese-American in Congress and the only GOPer to vote for the first version of the healthcare bill;
• Charles Djou of Hawai’i, who just got to the House in May in a special election but was voted out in November;
• Vern Ehlers of Michigan—serving in Gerald Ford’s old seat, he didn’t seek re-election in November;
• And South Carolina’s Bob Inglis, who was defeated 71 to 29 percent in the recent GOP primary .
