Harry Reid eats crow on border security funding: “I was wrong and Senator Cornyn was right”

First, watch this as Harry Reid eats crow (hat tip: Senate tipster):

After Reid and the Dems tangled with the GOP last night, the Senate just passed a good border security funding amendment today, 89-1.

The goat who voted against it? Babbling George Voinovich.

The Corner has some back story. Yeah, Lindsay Grahamnesty was involved, but the movers and shakers were solid enforcement-first senators like John Cornyn.

Oh, and if Grahamnesty think this rectifies all his smearing of grass-roots conservatives as bigots, he’s delusional.

Here’s the roll (check out the fence-sitters, too):

The amendment summary, via BP:

“There is hereby appropriated $3,000,000,000 to satisfy the requirements set out in section 1002(a) and, if any amount remains after satisfying such requirements, to achieve and maintain operational control over the international land and maritime borders of the United States, for employment eligibility verification improvements, for increased removal and detention of visa overstays, criminal aliens, aliens who have illegally reentered the United States, and for reimbursement of State and local section 287(g) expenses. These amounts are designated as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 204 of S. Con. Res. 21 (110th Congress).”

The amendment would provide emergency funding of $3 billion for:

· Hiring 500 more Customs & Border Protection (CBP) officers per year (FY08-12), 1200 more Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents per year, 200 investigators to combat aliens smuggling, 50 Deputy U.S. Marshals;

· 23,000 Border Patrol agents hired, trained, and reporting for duty;

· 4 Unmanned Aerial Vehicles & 105 ground-based radar and camera towers;

· 300 miles of vehicle barriers & 700 miles of border fencing;

· A permanent end to the “catch-and-release” policy with 45,000 detention beds;

· Operational control over 100% of the U.S.-Mexico land border;

· To allow DHS to present a photo electronically to an employer so that the employer may confirm the identity of the individual when he presents ID;

· To require mandatory detention of aliens who overstay their visa by 60 days;

· To increase penalties for illegal entrants who are criminals of those who reentered after a deportation; and

· To reimburse local governments who choose to cooperation with ICE in enforcing the immigration laws (INA 287g).

287g is a focus of Deport Them Now.

That may be the case, but I think it is likely that a number of Democrats will change their vote the second time around. Enough to let the veto stand? No idea. But it won’t be any 89-1 vote to override the veto.

While on the subject, for Bush to veto funding designed to simply enforce the law is extremely galling. It is a shame we can’t boot his sorry butt out if he does that. Again, I think as commander in chief his actions to thwart border security at the time he claims we are “at war” is clearly grounds for impeachment. He is blatantly refusing to uphold his oath of office to protect & defend this country.

I do see it as reasonable grounds for impeachment, but I don’t think, in view of the political landscape, that it would be a good thing for the country to actually do it. Much as I’d like to fix his wagon, I know that would be self destructive.

I don’t find that the argument “he is doing what he thinks best” holds any water. His intentions have no bearing on it. It’s what he does that matters. Some men beat their wives because they sincerely believe it is the best thing for them.

Anyway, with these people, I’ll believe they mean it *after* it actually happens. Proof, not promises. It so much like dealing with an alcoholic. When they are in trouble, oh the sobs and rending of garments. And the promises. Then as soon as you are placated, it starts all over agin.

President Bush Has Called On Congress To Make Basic Pilot Mandatory And Provide The Department Of Homeland Security (DHS) With The Funding And Authority To Make Sure It Is An Effective Tool To Prevent The Hiring Of Illegal Workers. Basic Pilot is still optional, and most employers do not participate. Both the House and Senate immigration bills would require employers to use Basic Pilot. The President's FY07 budget requests $111 million to expand Basic Pilot for more employers to make use of the program.

Source

Congress has expanded it to all 50 states and reauthorized it until Nov 2008, but hasn't acted to make it mandatory yet. That provision is included in most of the immigration bills that have been debated.

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