Posted on 07/01/2008 5:35:15 AM PDT by 3AngelaD
The House Appropriations Committee on Tuesday approved a bill that provides the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) $39.9 billion in discretionary spending for fiscal year 2009. This represents $2.3 billion more than President Bush's request and about a six percent increase over the $37.67 billion enacted for fiscal year 2008. Specifically, the House bill provides $9.7 billion for Customs and Border Protection, about $272 million more than enacted in fiscal year 2008 and $207 million more than the President's request. It also provides Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) $4.8 billion, roughly $72.8 million more than in fiscal year 2008 and $59.6 million more than the President's request.
Despite the additional spending, the House DHS Appropriations bill freezes $1.4 billion in spending on border security until the agency submits planning documentation to Congress, including an "analysis of [Homeland Security's] proposed infrastructure and technology solution for individual border segments."
Representative Harold Rogers (R-Ky.) objected in particular to the planning language in the bill that restricts $400 million of the $775 million appropriated for border fencing until Homeland Security submits - and both the House and Senate Appropriations Committees approve - an expenditure plan for security barriers along U.S. borders. The expenditure plan must include an analysis of a long list of items, including an analysis of every 15-mile segment of fencing or infrastructure and possible alternative means of achieving operational control.
Rep. Rogers offered an amendment striking this language, but it was defeated along party lines. He warned the committee, "The onerous consultation requirements and the detailed analysis hurdles are so pervasive, it seems like the bill is determined to actually stop the border fence in its tracks. This is clearly, to me, oversight gone overboard."
When Muslim terrorists come across the border and execute their next attack, the blood will be on Congress’ hands.
Democrat America haters?
Democrats who are willing and eager to put the interests of illegal immigrants ahead of the interests of the American people, some of whom they purport to represent.
.....Democrat America haters?....
I think it is a bid to provide Congressional staffers with power over DHS. They want the power for hands on rule.
It is the Pelosi desire to serve as prime minister and subordinate the Presidency.
This is a big, big, big issue. If this stands, it will eviscerate state and local 287 [g] enforcement and eliminate one of the most important tools we have in the attrition thru enforcement strategy. It is a killer.
Yup. People ought to be up in arms about this. Everytime you hear a candidate talk about securing the borders, remember this bait-and-switch piece of lying legislation.
That’s the whole point, you know.
The fence is important, i.e., essential, but the part of the bill that affects us most is the limitation on how funds will be spent on implementing 287 [g]. They have limited it to going after criminal aliens and not employers.
“it seems like the bill is determined to actually stop the border fence in its tracks”
Ya think? Everything’s just in limbo until the OBL highest bidder is sworn-in.
ping
This raises my blood pressure more than anything I have read in a month!
These sorry bastards are really worried that the fence might just interfere with the drug and illegal alien traffic coming across our borders.
You might have a point. The amount of money in illegal drugs is enormous. It wouldn’t surprise me that many of our politicians and law enforcement officials have been bought and paid for by the drug cartels.
We need to have a Tea Party and damn soon too!
I do not understand furthering the careers of illegal aliens over those of American citizens. Legislators that do so should be taken out back and hung as traitors.
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