GW might as well start spending more time in Crawford. he's toast.
Posted on 03/09/2006 9:15:20 AM PST by West Coast Conservative
Republican congressional leaders told President Bush Thursday his plan allowing a company owned by the government of Dubai in the United Arab Emiratews to take control of some U.S. port operations faces certain defeat in Congreess, GOP officials said.
Bush, however, insisted again that he would veto the legislation if it reaches his desk.
The GOP leaders conveyed the news one day after a House comittee voted 62-2 to block the deal and Senate Democrats demanded a vote.
The ports provision was added to a must-pass measure funding the war in Iraq and providing new hurricane relief. The White House expessed concern that the tactic could "slow down passage of vital funds and resources" but said Bush's veto threat still stood.
"Our focus is on continuing to work with Congress to move forward on this issue," White House press secretary Scott McClellan told reporters. "The lines of communication are open. There are members who have concerns. We believe it's important to work with Congress to address those concerns, and find a way forward."
The House panel's vote spurred calls by Democrats in the Senate.
"I admire what the House did," Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid, D- Nev., said on the Senate floor. "They said we know the president feels strongly about this. We know he said he's going to veto this. But we're going to do it because we think we have an obligation to our constituents."
Senate Democrats were trying to attach a measure blocking DP World's entry into the U.S. maritime industry to legislation designed to overhaul lobbying rules.
Deep public opposition to the ports deal has made the issue a dangerous one for congressional Republicans. Despite their own concerns, Senate GOP leaders have been trying to help the administration ease congressional worries about the proposal and are hoping to avoid an early showdown vote on the issue in their chamber.
"This issue should not be tangled up on the debate over whether or not to strengthen our lobbying disclosure laws," said Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, who has been a leader on both issues.
Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., offered the ports amendment on Wednesday, saying the Senate must act because of public opposition to the ports deal.
"We believe an overwhelming majority will vote to end the deal," he said.
Senate Republican leaders were trying to block a vote on the ports deal through a procedural vote that could occur as early as Thursday. That tactic was likely to fail, which could prompt Republicans to temporarily pull the lobbying reform bill from the floor to avoid an immediate defeat on the ports measure.
Bush has promised to veto any legislation blocking or delaying DP World from being able to operate U.S. port terminals as part of its takeover of Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Co., a British company that holds contracts at several U.S. ports.
By a 62-2 margin, the House Appropriations Committee on Wednesday ignored that threat and voted to bar DP World, which is run by the government of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, from holding leases or contracts at U.S. ports. The provision was added to a must-pass measure funding the war in Iraq and providing new hurricane relief.
Since House lawmakers attached the ports language to a must-pass $91 billion measure financing hurricane recovery and wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Bush's veto threats may carry less weight with lawmakers.
The imbroglio over the port operations deal overshadowed the substance of the funding measure for Iraq operations and rebuilding projects on the Gulf Coast.
The underlying $91.1 billion spending bill provides $67.6 billion to fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and $19.1 billion in new money for hurricane relief and rebuilding along the Gulf Coast.
The bill would bring total funding for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to $117.6 billion for the budget year ending Sept. 30. Total spending on Iraq and Afghanistan since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 would reach almost $400 billion.
The Appropriations Committee plan largely adopts Bush's requests for the war, the bulk of which would fund operations and maintenance costs, replacement of equipment, and personnel costs.
For hurricane relief, the House measure adopts Bush's $4.2 billion request but does not dedicate the money exclusively for Louisiana as he requested. The $19.1 billion for hurricane relief would bring total hurricane-related spending to more than $100 billion.
The panel approved the underlying measure on a voice vote late Wednesday, and the full House could consider the measure as early as next week.
Great way for Alliances to fall apart...
good way for "rubber stamping" bad ideas to end too
| Dubai threat to hit back (UAE Threatens Against Boeing and US Bases Support) |
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| Posted by prairiebreeze On 03/09/2006 11:02:17 AM CST · 71 replies · 867+ views The Hill.com ^ | March 9, 2006 | Roxana Tiron Dubai is threatening retaliation against American strategic and commercial interests if Washington blocks its $6.8 billion takeover of operations at several U.S. ports. As the House Appropriations Committee yesterday marked up legislation to kill Dubai Ports World’s acquisition of Britain’s Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation (P&O), the emirate let it be known that it is preparing to hit back hard if necessary. A source close to the deal said members of Dubai’s royal family are furious at the hostility both Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill have shown toward the deal. “They’re saying, ‘All we’ve done for you guys, all... |
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Is that sentiment based on the facts or senationalized conjecture?
so now we should base our policy on threats from arab nations??
no its bases on the fact that there is far too much "we should toe the line on immigration/ports/free trade simply because bush says "trust me"" here. I used to share your point of view but now i'm neck deep in illegal aliens and watching the land i love go to hell in a handbasket
Stopping this deal is stooooo-pid, and will seriously damage the WOT. Mark my words.
Apparently...
If Congress forces this bill on the President, Bush will go before the nation in a prime-time address and explain why the bill must be vetoed, and he will call upon Congress to produce a spending bill that does not contain the ports measure.
I know that many of you think this is over, but it isn't, not by a long shot. I just want you all to remember where you read it first. Bush is going to win this. I guarantee it.
I do not understand the objection the UAE operating some terminals in US ports when the United States in the mid 90s, under a clinton administration had no objections to allowing COSCO to operate in Long Beach Ca.
Duly noted.
GW might as well start spending more time in Crawford. he's toast.
Oh you wish.....
Yes I do. The sooner the gridlock hits, the better. I actually think it will bode well for conservatism. The less that "gets done", the better. And also, I believe in 08 neoconservatism will be rebuked, but, much to the chagrin of the "progressives", the move will be to the right, not the left. the Dem party will continue to lack the credibility to lead. So yes, I hope GW is a lame duck. Let's have some gridlock. Bring it on.
That's wishful thinking. He wins this fight, one way or another.
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