[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:

[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.

[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.

[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?

[Reaganwuzthebest]

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

[OKIEDOC]

Just Damn!

[RightthinkinAmerican]

Bye, all. This former Bushbot is being “run off” by those still drinking the Koolaid. Good luck fighting this. It’s not worth my blood pressure.

[OKIEDOC]

I don’t trust Chertoff with the security of our country.

Checkoff is a bureaucrat who thinks in terms of what is good for cert off personal must be good for America.

I don’t trust Cutoff to carry out any lawful mandates.

Just the lowly opinion of a red state wannabe.

Listening to a little Blood Sweat and Tears, You Make Me So Happy, SENOR CHERTOFF....NOT.

[freekitty]

Chewing nails here in Texas.

[montag813]

It is worse than this..the $4.4 billion is not even guaranteed, but depends on illegals actually obeying the law and paying the proscribed fines to fund the border security portion. If they do not pay the fines—which they won’t—then NO MONEY for border security. Meanwhile Bush hands out cold cash to the Iraqi vermin for their “reconstruction”, but there is no cash available to defend our borders. What does that say about the character of this man? Call your Senators and tell them you are not fooled by these frauds.