Posted on 09/23/2008 9:18:19 AM PDT by SwinneySwitch
WASHINGTON – Congress approved a shift of $400 million from technology accounts to construction of the U.S. border fence despite a Customs and Border Protection admission that it cannot be completed by year's end, officials said Monday.
The House Appropriations Subcommittee for Homeland Security agreed to a CBP proposal to transfer funds from other accounts to build the remainder of the 670 miles of border fence.
Eagle Pass Mayor Chad Foster, chairman of the Texas Border Coalition, voiced disappointment over Congress' decision to continue to fund “the border wall.”
“It won't work. It is lethal to people and wildlife and eventually will be torn down,” Foster said.
Rep. David Price, D-N.C., chairman of the homeland security subcommittee, notified the Bush administration that the funds would be reallocated, a spokeswoman said.
Price also directed Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff to revisit border areas where there is dispute and work with local officials to improve consultation and assessment.
In a letter to Chertoff, Price said the committee would not stand in the way of the department's attempt to build the fence, “even though I have serious doubt about its ability to accomplish its stated goals.”
The government has built 344 miles of fence, but lawsuits and legal squabbles with landowners in the Rio Grande Valley and in other Texas locations have delayed most construction in the Lone Star state.
Ralph Basham, the CBP commissioner, told Congress earlier this month that the federal government could not meet President Bush's goal of building the fence by the time he leaves office.
Basham also told lawmakers that he needed an additional $400 million, citing the cost overruns from the rising price of steel, materials and fuel.
Customs and Border Protection asked Congress for permission to shift funds from other accounts, most notably high-technology surveillance projects, to the border fence.
Rep. Silvestre Reyes, D-El Paso, in a letter to Price, asked House appropriators to block the shift in funds. Other Texas border lawmakers signing the letter were Reps. Solomon Ortiz, D-Corpus Christi; Ruben Hinojosa, D-Mercedes; Ciro Rodriguez, D-San Antonio; and Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo.
SOMEBODY needs to ask these fellows which country they're being paid to represent.
Just watch. When they aren’t able to build the 400 miles of fencing in the next three months, the Congress will pull the money, defund the whole damned project and say, “See, we tried to seal the border, but it just can’t be done!”
“It won’t work. It is lethal to people and wildlife and eventually will be torn down,”
:::::::::::::
Maybe we should use other means that are lethal to prevent the illegal invasion of America? What would happen if Commie Chinese landing craft started hitting our beaches? Would the liberal weenies be down at the beach waving and greeting them and trying to protect them from fences??
“It won’t work. It is lethal to people and wildlife and eventually will be torn down,” Eagle Pass Mayor Chad Foster said.
Citizens of Eagle Pass, stand by to be attacked by godless fences ... killer fences . . .
Whadaya think?
Assault fences
I think I’ll believe it when I see it.
‘’’’SOMEBODY needs to ask these fellows which country they’re being paid to represent.’’’’
Not wanting to generalize anything after looking at their names, but their actions and words would indicate -———MEXICO-————
“which country they think they’re being paid to represent.”
They know they don’t represent a country. They do know they represent La Raza.
They have to protect people like this...... yes, this article will make you angry and sick!
Just one of many in newspapers around the country today.
http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/7844
Deported man faces child rape, molestation charges
Build a fence, dig a river, and build a second fence!!!!!!
They have gotten an easy 30+ miles up in two weeks.
No noise, no muss no fuss, just fence.
The fence won’t work unless it is constantly patrolled.
put T Boned Chicken’s idea of solar to use and make a solar powered electric fence.
These 5 ‘rats represent the counties along the entire 1240 mile Texas/Mexico border.
“They have gotten an easy 30+ miles up in two weeks.”
What type fence are they building? Any of the double fences that most think is needed?
Woo Hoo!
BTTT!
[Duncan] Hunter takes on Columbia, Richardson - Democrat blasted on immigration
Border Fence Update: Tecate, CA
The Secure Fence Act written by Congressman Duncan Hunter, Presidential Candidate 2008, would extend THIS "San Diego Primary Fence" throughout our southern border states.
Thank you Duncan Hunter!
McCain will get this done...not!!
By Eleanor Stables, CQ Staff
As Republican presidential candidate Rep. Duncan Hunter has staked out the U.S.-Mexico border fence as one of this top priorities, he has repeatedly criticized the Department of Homeland Security for planning to build only half of the 700 miles of border fence authorized by Congress last year and acting too slowly to do even that.
The Mexican border “is our biggest homeland security problem” and “this administration has a case of ‘the slows’ on border enforcement,” Hunter said at a Republican presidential candidate debate in May, repeating “the slows” criticism in the June debate.
(snip)
The Secure Fence Act says “the Secretary of Homeland Security shall provide for least 2 layers of reinforced fencing, the installation of additional physical barriers, roads, lighting, cameras and sensors” at five specific stretches of border totaling approximately 700 miles.
It sets three “priority area” deadlines — including one that was not met for an interlocking surveillance camera system along part of the border in California and Arizona by May 30, 2007, Hunter’s spokesman Joe Kasper said in an interview. Another deadline is for two-layered fencing to be installed in that section by June 2008. The third deadline is for the fencing to be installed in a Texas border section by 2009. No deadline is set for fencing to be completed in the three other sections.
(snip)
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