Posted on 07/18/2006 1:09:27 PM PDT by Founding Father
Getting tough on immigration apparently means refusing to provide funds for programs that have already been approved.
When the immigration issue was at the boiling point in the spring, the US Senate voted to erect a mere 370 miles of security fencing along the US-Mexican border. However, last week many of the same senators voted against providing funds to build it.
"We do a lot of talking. We do a lot of legislating," said Senator Jeff Sessions, the Alabama Republican whose amendment to fund the fence was killed on a 71-29 vote. "The things we do often sound very good, but we never quite get there," he told the Washington Times.
Sessions submitted his amendment to the Homeland Security Appropriations bill that would have authorized $1.8 billion to build the security fence as promised by the lawmakers and the Bush Administration. Two months ago members of the Senate voted 83-16 to build the fence along high-traffic areas of the border with Mexico. In the same vote on May 17, the Senate also directed 500 miles of vehicle barriers to be built along the border, as well.
But the May vote only authorized the fencing and vehicle barriers, and while the senators are on record as voting for border fencing and barriers, without the appropriations they've voted not to build the fence they've authorized.
"If we never appropriate the money needed to construct these miles of fencing and vehicle barriers, those miles of fencing and vehicle barriers will never actually be constructed," Mr. Sessions said on the floor of the Senate just prior to the vote, which was aired on C-SPAN, but not by any of the broadcast or cable news shows.
Democrats were joined by 28 Republicans in opposing the Sessions amendment to the Homeland Security Appropriations Act. Senators Ben Nelson of Nebraska and Thomas R. Carper of Delaware were the only two Democrats who voted for funding the fence.
The senators — including most of the Republican leadership — voted in May to build the fence but last week opposed funding it.
The appropriations bill, which allocates over $30 billion to the Homeland Security Department — which includes $2.2 billion for border security and control but no fencing –passed on a 100-0 vote.
Republican Senator Judd Gregg of New Hampshire, who in the past has fought to increase border security and enforcement of federal immigration laws, opposed Senator Session's amendment.
"We should build these walls; there's no question about it. But the real issue here is the offset that's being used, and the offset creates a Hobson's choice for almost everyone here," Greg told the Washington Post.
Mr. Session's amendment would have required across-the-board cuts to the rest of the Homeland Security appropriations bill, Mr. Gregg said, which would mean cutting 750 new border-patrol agents and 1,200 new detention beds for illegal aliens that he included in the bill.
"Once again we see our government officials trying to provide security-on-the-cheap. Americans should be outraged," said a Border Patrol agent, who wishes to remain anonymous.
"Did anyone really believe these guys [senators] want to secure the border?" he said.
Another Border Patrol agent was less diplomatic: "Our leaders are not serious about border security. A few hundred more agents is a far cry from what they promised. It's a con-job on the American people."
They also did not fund 800 new ICE Agents, so interior enforcement will continue to be minimal.
George W. Bush could solve this problem in a month
Utah spends $23 million a year on Medicaid for illegals. I think that money could be better spent on a fence.
It shows an arrogance and disregard for US citizens that is beyond comprehension. It is time for a physical removal of these people. They are the enemy and the sooner we realize this, believe it and do something about it--lance the boil in other words, the better off we'll be. There will be turmoil and confusion at first, then real leaders will rise.
A physician has to hurt you in order for you to heal sometimes, the same with our government. It is not immune to prosecution, we just need some folks, ONE maybe, with juevos enough to start the balls (no pun intended--or maybe so) rolling.
"Another Border Patrol agent was less diplomatic: "Our leaders are not serious about border security. A few hundred more agents is a far cry from what they promised. It's a con-job on the American people."
We knew it before the faux promises : )
C O N G A M E
California probably spends that much every 2 weeks.
So, did we not predict this? : )
Uh, yeah, right.
Since the fence is approved, maybe private organizations could try building it on public land now. It would be interesting to see if the Senate orders it torn down.
Turn it into a make work project for Mexicans. Anybody who can prove he or she is Mexican and NOT a legal US resident is eligible, and is granted special statutory permission to shack up within 30 miles of the wall. We will identify virtually all Mexicans illegally in the country that way, the Mexicans will be happy with the money they get, and we keep out all future interlopers. What's not to like.
Does anyone know what sort of an effect the "front runners" for '08 had, to arrive at this outcome?
Yep, 17th Amendment should be repealed. Bad idea in the first place.
Our "leaders" don't want Border Security.
The unspoke element is the dope trade across the border. Shut down illegal immigration and you also shut down (or put a major kabosh) on the HUGE dope cartels in Mexico. It's well known the entire Mexican infrastructure from the cop in the tumbelweeds to the highest gvmt. officials have been co-oped by the drug trade.. If one wants to understand why our politicians don't seem rational about our border security....follow the money...just follow the money...billions of dollars...they have bought the entire Mexican government. Think they haven't bought some of ours as well? ....Jobs Americans won't do indeed....follow the money and you will find why we are fed such nonsense.
I bet Texas does too.
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