June 27, 2013

A Wee Bit of Immigration Reform Arithmetic

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Today the Senate passed its immigration reform bill. It passed by a huge bipartisan majority, which is supposed to bode well for its future. But here’s a little bit of bipartisan math to ponder over:

  • It received 14 Republican votes.
  • That’s 30 percent of the Senate Republican caucus.
  • If the eventual House bill does as well—not likely, but let’s be optimistic—it will receive 71 Republican votes.
  • To pass, it will then need 147 Democratic votes.

This is pretty much a best-case scenario. So ask yourself: Is John Boehner willing to let immigration reform pass with a 2:1 Democratic majority? Or, more likely, something like a 3:1 Democratic majority? I guess you never know, but it doesn’t seem very likely.

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Investigative journalism, like the story you just read, takes time to do. Months of research. Weeks of writing, editing, and fact checking—and putting together the photography, art, video, and audio that tell the stories in a new way, illuminating new perspectives and voices

We can afford to take that time because we don’t report to an oligarch or corporation with a special agenda. We report to you, and for you. That’s why we unabashedly pursue the truth and relentlessly shine a light into the darkness.

In this month’s Summer Membership Drive, we’ve got to raise $200,000 to support more crucial investigations. This is a pivotal moment in our nation, with democracy on the line, and we can only do this work because readers like you step up. Every donation, of any amount, makes a difference here. We cannot do this work without you.

So, we’re asking: Will you support independent journalism that demands those in power answer for their actions?

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