Spending Bill Shrinks Border Fence

The Washington Times ^ | 12/18/07 | S.A. Miller and Stephen Dinan

[shortstop]

Congress last night passed a giant new spending bill that undermines current plans for a U.S.-Mexico border fence, allowing the Homeland Security Department to build a single-tier barrier rather than the two-tier version that has worked in California.

The spending bill, written by Democrats and passed 253-154 with mostly their votes, surrenders to President Bush's budget demands, meeting his spending limit with a $515 billion bill to fund most of the federal government and setting up votes to pay for the Iraq war. But Democrats reached his goal in part by slashing his defense and foreign-aid priorities to pay for added domestic spending.

The concessions promise to end a months-long budget standoff before Congress adjourns for the year and takes a Christmas break scheduled to

"The fact that this was buried in a bloated, 3,500-page omnibus speaks volumes about the Democrats' unserious approach on border security and illegal immigration," said House Minority Leader John A. Boehner, Ohio Republican. "Gutting the Secure Fence Act will make our borders less secure, but it's consistent with the pattern of behavior we've seen all year from this majority."

The 2006 Secure Fence Act specifically called for "two layers of reinforced fencing" and listed five specific sections of border where it should be installed. The new spending bill removes the two-tier requirement and the list of locations.

House Democrats said they were just adopting the Senate version, which was backed by a bipartisan group of border-state senators and passed the Senate several times this year.

Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, the Texas Republican who has led the charge to change the 2006 law, said she wants to give Homeland Security more flexibility and wants local officials and landowners to be consulted.

[Will88]

If it makes you feel better, just post nonsense and misinformation to make your points. Have you forgotten, Jorge and his Homeland Security Dept. have had a full year to make progress on the double-fence authorized and funded more than a year ago? They’ve done next to nothing. Rumor has it a few miles of single fence might have been built, but that seems difficult to confirm.

Have you ever heard of eminent domain? That is an international border, the US/Mexico border, not the Texas/Mexico border. Border towns and border land owners should be far down the list when the interests of all fifty states are being affected by Jorge’s almost seven year, deliberate refusal to enforce the laws. He’s even made Slick Willy look like a tough on border enforcement president.

[dsutah]

Actually, our President’s name is “George”, not “Jorge”! You could try a little respect now, can’t you? You really can’t muster any credit for him for anything at all, can’t you? He may not be perfect, but he’s done many things that I thought MOST conservatives wanted him to do! Now reasonable people can disagree on whether he could do more about the border. But you forget that this country is not a dictatorship!

He can’t just take people’s property away. Then there are those so-called “sanctuary cities”. Now is that Pres. Bush’s fault? Who created THOSE cities? It seems some people want to blame him for every border problem! There are other people to blame too. There are mayors and governors, congresspeople and senators who don’t seem to want to do anything to cooperate with the Pres. Now you have noticed that haven’t you?

Do you still think he is a dictator or an absolute monarch who can say he wants something, and “Presto” it happens? Well I wonder! Someone would start squealing that he was a tyrant or something! You do remember what happened to some world leaders who were or became tyrants, don’t you?

[fabian]

wrong...Fred Thompson will make sure that the fence gets built and national employee enforcement will solve the problem. No jobs equals going back home. It’s already happening in Arizona.

[navyguy]

Yes, its already happening in AZ, but you seem to be assuming Fred is going to win the election. While I like Fred I don’t make that assumption. Nor do I assume that even if he won that congress would cooperate with him in ensuring the fence is built and that we get Arizona style enforcement on a nationwide scale.

Further, even if Fred wins it won’t change the supreme arrogance of illegals who will refuse to leave under any circumstances.

[fabian]

come, look on the bright side. They will simply leave as they are already because the prospects will be better for them at home than here. And Fred can appeal directly to the people just as Reagan did to get his tax cuts done.

[navyguy]

I like Fred, and if he wins the nomination, I’ll vote for him. But I hope you understand my total absence of faith in our gooberment to do anything at all on the fed level about this problem. If anything I expect congress to fight this tooth and nail.