DeMint: Report Says $4.4 Billion Border Funding Can Be Used for Amnesty

press release from office of Jim DeMint, U.S. Senator S.C. ^ | June 27th, 2007

[Mount Athos]

Here is some introductory commentary from Powerlineblog.com:

When proponents of comprehensive immigration reform decided they needed to sweeten the pot to get their bill passed, they added $4.4 billion that was supposedly to be spent up-front on border security. This was intended to partially satisfy the desire of millions of Americans that border security and employer enforcement be addressed first, and other measures considered only after we are satisfied that we have control over our borders.

Senator Jim DeMint was suspicious, however, and went to the Congressional Research Service for an opinion on how the $4.4 billion could be spent. The result was as you might suspect; what follows is DeMint's press release:

[CT]

For all our vitriol aimed at RINOs and the BIG RINO (Bush), we should remember those senators and congress critters that have stuck with us when things didn't look so good.

Assuming this bill is finally killed, Bush will be a lame duck the rest of his term. And if I could venture a guess, he's overdrawn on that political capital account he once talked about.

[BigFinn]

It’s always a red flag when they tack money onto a bill. And it takes a lawyer to read the lawyer speak.

[Cacique]

STOP AMNESTY NOW!! WE CAN DO IT!!

[TomGuy]

This bill is similar to the one defeated a couple of weeks ago in that a few Senators are trying to keep the real contents from being known.

Kennedy held the previous one while Reid substituted the 2006 version as a prop to be voted on. The intent was to later replace the contents with the 2007 version — after the bill passed.

Sessions became aware of this and skewered Reid for the tactic. Kennedy still held the contents. Kennedy did release then late one Saturday night, but not before The Heritage Foundation had gotten hold of a copy of the rough draft and published it on their website. That was when a few Senators and many other citizens began to read the various provisions.

A similar pattern has taken place with this current version. Sessions again complained that the actual bill has not been made available. Apparently, the only copy in existence was being held (again) by Kennedy. When Reid called for the first vote, Sessions demanded that the bill be read into the record. The Chair did not even have a copy of the bill and Reid had to track down a copy to give to the Chair. At that point, only Senators in the ‘inner circle’ had even seen the bill.

The last I heard, the actual contents of the bill are still unknown, as Team Kennedy did some more changes in the early afternoon.

[bybybill]

The backers of this abortion, especially Harry Reid, could not have done a worse job. From the git-go, they have made dumb, dumb, moves.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

We are being lied to 24x7 by Bush and the rest of these whores.

[PhiKapMom]

Thanks to Sen DeMint for allowing this to see the light of day.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

IMO, nuke ‘em all. ;O)

[The Mayor]

Ping... This will infuriate you........!

[Whispering Smith]

Why am I not surprised.
We all know that Edward Moore Kennedy let the “groups” draft the bill. They of course drafted it in their interests. Why not? There was no contravailing force present in the Senator’s office. Then there is John Sydney McCain III. He believes in a kick the tires and light the fires approach to life. So, he buys off on the Edward Moore Kennedy bill drafted by the “groups.”
I guess we need to know who are the “groups”, what are their objectives, where are they trying to drive the country, why are they pursuing those objectives, and when will they be satisfied?
I may have confused the order of the five w’s but I think I got them all.

[elizabetty]

I want somebody to ask an amnesty supporter in the Senate one simple question.

If this is "good for Americans" why are you hiding what is in it from Americans?

[bybybill]

Tom, I`m beginning to think you are right.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

I knew, after a few years, I'd wear you out! :O)

Hope you're doing well.

[stephenjohnbanker]

: )

[Reaganwuzthebest]

And Kyl and Kennedy were no doubt fully aware of their scam attempt. None of these so-called “Grand Bargainers” can be trusted.

[ExTexasRedhead]

Send the info to all the talk show hosts. Too bad we don’t have the cash to print it on billboards across the country.

[Reaganwuzthebest]

Good idea, keep hammering away at these con artists.

Domenici from New Mexico mentioned this today also so I think a lot of the senators are aware of it.