House votes to limit U.S. aid to Mexico - (Rep. Drier against measure)

LA DAILY NEWS.COM ^ | JULY 2, 2005 | Lisa Friedman, Washington Bureau

[CHARLITE]

WASHINGTON -- A vote in the House of Representatives this week to punish Mexico for failing to extradite the suspected killers of Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputy David March and other law-enforcement officers divided Southland lawmakers, though not entirely along partisan lines.

Sponsored by two Colorado legislators, the amendment threatens to cut off aid to any country that refuses to extradite suspects in the killings of U.S. law officers. It would affect about $66 million in aid to Mexico, which has blocked the extradition of suspects who face either death penalty or life imprisonment sentences. It passed 327 to 98.

"Countries refusing to extradite cop killers and other serious offenders should not be rewarded by receiving American foreign assistance," Rep. Howard "Buck" McKeon, who voted for the measure, said in a statement.

He was joined by Reps. Joe Baca, D-San Bernardino; Ken Calvert, R-Riverside; Elton Gallegly, R-Thousand Oaks; Gary Miller, R-Diamond Bar; Dana Rohrabacher, R-Huntington Beach; Adam Schiff, D-Pasadena; and Brad Sherman, D-Sherman Oaks.

Voting against the measure were Xavier Becerra, D-Los Angeles; Howard Berman, D-Van Nuys; David Dreier, R-Glendora; Jane Harman, D-El Segundo; Jerry Lewis, R-Redlands; Juanita Millender-McDonald, D-Long Beach; Grace Napolitano, D-Santa Fe Springs; Linda Sanchez, D-Lakewood; Hilda Solis, D-El Monte; and Henry Waxman, D-Los Angeles.

Dreier spokeswoman Jo Maney said the congressman voted against the amendment "because its unintended consequence would be eliminating aid to Mexico for enhancing border security, eradicating drugs and reducing their illegal entry into the U.S."

Comment: Lisa Friedman: lisa.friedman@langnews.com

[CHARLITE]

"Dreier spokeswoman Jo Maney said the congressman voted against the amendment "because its unintended consequence would be eliminating aid to Mexico for enhancing border security, eradicating drugs and reducing their illegal entry into the U.S."

Seems to me that if the entire country were not run by drug cartels, and if it were decently managed, they would have sufficient assets to fund their own "border protection." The way it looks from here, Mexico is hopelessly corrupt at the moment, and for as far as I can see into the future.

[isthisnickcool]

Congress has no Constitutional basis for issuing foreign aid from the treasury. Or domestic aid for that matter.

[Mr. Mojo]

Dreier spokeswoman Jo Maney said the congressman voted against the amendment "because its unintended consequence would be eliminating aid to Mexico for enhancing border security, eradicating drugs and reducing their illegal entry into the U.S."

Oh yeah, they've done such a fine job with the countless millions we've already thrown at them.

[Hodar]

20 years ago Mexico, Korea, Vietnam, China and India were lousy, backwards, 3rd world countries. Today, everyone but Mexico has improved their lot in life.

Why? Well, visit Mexico and just about any latin-American country and see for yourself. While India, Korea, Vietnam and China have a sense of dignity, work hard and value education; Mexico (and MOST of latin-America) have found it easier to hold their hand out. I don't know why, but Latin-Americans do not respect each other, nor themselves. They are content to say "we are poor, so YOU should give me money", instead of doing like the other contries and saying "Show me, and I'll do it myself".

Mexico will remain at the bottom rung because they are too lazy (stupid, dull, insert your favorite adverb here) to learn from their past and continuing mistakes.

[datura]

Oh yeah, they've done such a fine job with the countless millions billions we've already thrown at them.

There, that's better.

[Torie]

This is the guy who wants to tie his SS anti fraud bill to Bush's guest worker program, in a grand compromise. It won't happen, but that is what he wants. Drier may be booted out in 2006. The odds are he won't, but he is really sweating it, and he should. After the perhaps criminal defense contractor bribed Cunningham, against whom search warrants were issued here, there and everywhere, by a grand jury, who probably won't be running for re-election, Drier is the Dems juiciest GOP Congressperson target in California.

[Just A Nobody]

Why the he!! should we be giving Mexico money. We are already housing, educating, providing medical care, and employing half their population. They in turn send billions back to Mexico.

"because its unintended consequence would be eliminating aid to Mexico for enhancing border security, eradicating drugs and reducing their illegal entry into the U.S."

Yeeaahhh riiigghhttt!!! They have done a SUPER job thus far!

[need_a_screen_name]

Mexico should be punished for stealing our water. Not to mention all of the illegals they send here.

[Ursus arctos horribilis]

"...the amendment threatens to cut off aid to any country that refuses to extradite suspects in the killings of U.S. law officers."

Are cop's lives worth more than those of other US citizens?

[MSM]

according to U.S. law, yes, because the punishment is higher. personally I think Mexico will save a lot more money by sending the criminals comndemed to death-penalty to U.S. than by keeping them in prision they also wouldn't have to worry about any of those criminals escaping, so what's the excuse?.