Posted on 02/22/2006 11:56:34 AM PST by Sub-Driver
House Chair: GOP Can Defeat Bush On Ports Deal
WASHINGTON -- New Jersey Rep. Jim Saxton said Wednesday that Republicans can override any veto from President Bush regarding legislation that would halt the pending sale of shipping operations at Port Newark and five other major U.S. seaports to an Arab company.
"This deal doesn't pass the national security test," said Saxton, chairman of the House Terrorism, Unconventional Threats and Capabilities subcommittee. "I think it's a mistake. If necessary, Congress should act independently of the president."
"Frankly, I think we can override a veto. We have more than enough votes to do it," said Saxton, R-Mount Holly.
No Republicans on Capitol Hill have emerged to back President Bush on the pending sale of shipping operations at the six seaports to a state-owned business in the United Arab Emirates. All six of New Jersey's Republican congressmen are opposed to the deal, as are the six Democratic congressmen and two Democratic senators.
Bush has brushed aside objections by leaders in the Senate and House that the $6.8 billion sale could raise risks of terrorism at American ports, and has pledged to veto any bill Congress might approve to block the agreement involving the sale of a British company to the Arab firm.
Saxton, a ranking Republican on the House Armed Services Committee, said he and committee chairman Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., are drafting legislation that would protect ports and all critical infrastructure from being managed by foreign governments.
(Excerpt) Read more at nbc10.com ...
Good!!!!!
duh.
Whadda ya wanna bet, they create a loophole for the Chinese Communists to keep on managing ports? Ala Long Beach
Ridiculous. Foreign corporations own tons of "ports" (actually, licenses to operate port terminals) and critical infrastructure and have for decades.
This bill will either have to contain definitions that are so narrow as to be meaningless or it will mandate spending hundreds of billions of dollars to compensate all those companies for seizing their property.
Pure RINO grandstanding. Thank you, O crappy NJ GOP.
STUPIDITY, thy name is....SAXTON.....sheesh.
"Saxton, a ranking Republican on the House Armed Services Committee, said he and committee chairman Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., are drafting legislation that would protect ports and all critical infrastructure from being managed by foreign governments."
These idiots don't realize that every major port on the west coast is operated by foreign companies. Where have they been? Their head is up in a dark place.
Just another episode ginned up by the media to embarrass Bush.
It's still a political hot-potato.
Good hell, all this does is help Hillary in 08 with her union buddies that's all this thing is about.
The reality is those hyping these ports as such a national security threat (if owned by a UAE company) are completely all wet. They are simply trying to act as if they are for "national security" over a situation which will not change are national security one iota! Yet it plays well for the 10-second attentioned American mind.
GWB is dead right on this one -
Beat handing over the ports. I am tired of this administration putting business ahead of national security.
And some brain dead House Republicans took hook, line, and sinker.
I believe he is dead wrong.
Hear, hear.
They won't, but seeing your screen name, you won't believe it.
Let's see, the Congress overrides a veto and blocks the sale, UAE gets ticked and refuses to allow us to use bases to prevent Iran from blocking the Straight of Hormuz, oil prices skyrocket to $200+ a barrel with gas at $6 a gallon then who will get the blame?
GW has fallen down securing the border but other than that he's been pretty strong.
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