Henry Cuellar says appropriations process still gives Democrats leverage on Dream Act

Rep. Henry Cuellar said Tuesday that the appropriations process is the leverage House Democrats need to pass a clean Dream Act.

“The Dream Act is one issue, but we still got to get the top-line numbers,” Mr. Cuellar, Texas Democrat, said on CNN.

“The numbers in the appropriations is what the top-line numbers are that are important and that’s the leverage,” he added.

Mr. Cuellar voted for the first continuing resolution to keep the government funded last week and voted in support of the bill that passed on Monday.

“I don’t think we ought to shut down the government for any reason,” he said.

Democrats held out voting for the continuing resolution last week to try and force a vote on protections for Dreamers, those brought to the U.S. illegally as children, but ultimately, Democrats decided on Monday to support a funding bill after a nearly three-day government shutdown.