Breaking: Senate overwhelmingly approves House Border Wall (per KFI radio)

KFI radio broadcast ^ | 9/29/06 | self

[The Spirit Of Allegiance]

The House version of the bill approving and funding the building of a U.S./Mexico border wall has overwhelmingly passed the Senate, according to KFI News.

Link to station provided.

UPDATE: Senate backs fence along Mexico border
Reuters
By Donna Smith and Richard Cowan

The U.S. Senate on Friday overwhelmingly agreed to authorize construction of a fence along the U.S. border with Mexico, sending to President George W. Bush before the November 7 elections a bill that Republicans hope will showcase their efforts to stop illegal immigration.

The Republican-written bill authorizing construction of about 700 miles of fence was one of the last bills to clear Congress as lawmakers prepared to leave Washington to campaign for the congressional elections. On a vote of 80-19 the Senate approved the bill already passed by the House of Representatives and it now goes to Bush for his signature.

Bush had sought broad immigration legislation that would create a guest-worker program to help provide a steady workforce for jobs Americans are either unable or unwilling to do. But he was unable to marshal support for it in the face of opposition from a solid group of House Republicans who pushed for tougher enforcement and border measures instead.

A separate bill approved by the House on Friday provided an initial $1.2 billion in funding for the fence and other border-security measures for the fiscal year that begins Oct 1. The money is part of a $34.8 billion bill for domestic security programs for the fiscal year that begins October 1.

The broad spending bill also criminalizes the construction of tunnels that could be secret passageways from Mexico or Canada for drug smugglers, illegal aliens or terrorists.

The Senate was expected to pass the funding bill quickly and send it on to Bush along with the fence authorization.

Opponents of the fence said it would be expensive and was not an effective deterrent to illegal immigration.

"This is a political gimmick," said Sen. Ken Salazar, a Democrat from Colorado. "It is not in the long-term interest of of the United States of America and the Western Hemisphere."

The government of Mexico on Thursday issued a statement expressing "its profound concern" with the fence. The statement, translated from Spanish, said such measures "are contrary to the spirit of cooperation that should prevail to guarantee security in the common border."

IMMIGRATION OVERHAUL

Backers of the fence said it was an important tool to clamp down against illegal immigration. An estimated 1.2 million illegal immigrants were arrested in the last fiscal year trying to cross into the United States along the border states of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California. Sections of the fence would be built in each state.

"Fortifying our borders is the first prong of comprehensive immigration reform and it's an integral piece of national security," said Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, a Tennessee Republican.

Lawmakers and analysts say Congress could tackle comprehensive immigration legislation in a post-election sessions, but they acknowledge difficulties.

"It will be tough but doable," said Rep. Adam Putnam (news, bio, voting record), a Florida Republican.

"There is a lot of pent up pressure and interest in doing something in the lame duck session," said Craig Regelbrugge of the Agriculture Coalition for Immigration Reform.

Democrats accused the Republican majority of playing politics with the fence bill after raising immigration as an election-year issue but having little to show in the way of legislation.

"This is about November. This is about incumbent protection, not about border protection," said Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid of Nevada.

Earlier this year the Senate passed broad immigration legislation that combined border security and employer sanctions with a plan to create a guest-worker program and provide a path to citizenship for many of the 12 million illegal immigrants living in the United States.

The Senate and House were unable to compromise and instead resorted to passing a series narrow border security measures.

[hinckley buzzard]

They will take land from Americans,... yet lack the guts to take it from Mexico.

Just how do you suggest the American government build a wall on Mexican territory? You need to go home and grow up for about ten years, come back and try again.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Who were the 19 TRAITORS!!? Well, I guess I will have to read on to find out.

Freeper Sidebar:

Sorry, Dane. Can't win 'em all, eh?

[DancesWithBolsheviks]

I hope that the Senate doesn't think that, in passing this, that they have actually solved the problem. I also hope that they don't think that the voters will have thought they have solved the problem.

While a large percentage, probably a majority, of those illegally in the US crossed the southern border, there are still other ways to get in. Also, many of those who are here illegally (from just about every country on earth) were admitted legally on tourist or other temporary visas. Until we have legislation (and enforcement) to end the 'anchor baby' policy, prosecute employers, and create penalties for being in the country illegally, the illegal alien problem will not end.

[conservative in nyc]

There's $1.187 Billion of FY2007 funding available in the Homeland Security Appropriations Conference Report for border security fencing, tactical infrastructure and technology systems. Recently approved supplemental funds would raise the total over $1.5 Billion, according to the report.

I'm pretty sure this is what the Senate is passing. It's pretty much a done deal. Few would risk voting against the Homeland Security funding bill.

[tobyhill]

I can't believe this is not breaking on the MSM's websites.

[Zeroisanumber]

And you still call it a bad week for conservatives?

The border fence is worse than usless, it's expensive and usless. Between that and having a congressman from our side come out as a gay sex offender, I'd say it's been a bad week.

[ARealMothersSonForever]

Do you have any clue how ridiculous you sound?

Yep. You and I agree on many things. Much more than we disagree upon. My stance on immigration, and illegal immigration in specific; is that it is the sole responsibility of the federal government. Since the negotiation of treaties and trade is the purvey of the federal government, and specifically excluded by the interstate commerce regulations; I posit that the taking of any lands (public or private) for the regulation of commerce between a foreign nation and any of the United States is not only unconstitutional: I predict that the Supreme Court will weigh in on this. Legislation done for popular appeal does not necessarily mean good legislation.

[jveritas]

The President will veto the bill.

[Jeff Head]

One of the principle roles of the Federal government is to defend and protect this nation against foreign invasion. To do that, we need secure borders. It is a role well spelled out in the constitution and one I am willing to spend some of my hard earned money for...as opposed to all of the socialistic/marxistic social restructuring programs that are destroying the nation from within.

The majority of the land along the southern border (outside of Texas) is already federal land so no one's private property will be in question in those areas.

In Texas and other areas, I am willing to be that those folks (and I am speaking as a native Texan) will welcome this initiaitive and be willing to be compensated for a narrow stretch of their land right along the border to keep the illegal aliens, drug trafficers, and potential terrorists out.

Since they will be compensated, their land is not being stolen in the least...but the defense of this nation is being provided for according to constitutional means.

The House has long known this...it is clear we finally scared the Senate at election time into supporting it too.

[hinckley buzzard]

If it was so overwhelming, then why did it take so long?

It takes a while for the 'rats to count their real mail and separate it from the mass produced bulk-rate drivel that usually guides their actions.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Where was Kennedy? Staggering out at a watering hole on East Capitol Street trying to hail a cab back to the floor?

[jveritas]

And thus spoken a real bitter loser who claims that he is a "real conservative".

[plain talk]

Republicans may often be pathetic but they sure look great right now compared to those 19 that voted against this bill - one of which would be the majority leader of the Senate if the dems were to win control in Nov.

[tobyhill]

He already told Frist that if it passed he would sign it but they had to guarantee that they would try for the comprehensive immigration reform when they return.

[oneolcop]

Alphabetical by Senator Name Akaka (D-HI), Nay
Alexander (R-TN), Yea
Allard (R-CO), Yea
Allen (R-VA), Yea
Baucus (D-MT), Yea
Bayh (D-IN), Yea
Bennett (R-UT), Yea
Biden (D-DE), Yea
Bingaman (D-NM), Nay
Bond (R-MO), Yea
Boxer (D-CA), Yea
Brownback (R-KS), Yea
Bunning (R-KY), Yea
Burns (R-MT), Yea
Burr (R-NC), Yea
Byrd (D-WV), Yea
Cantwell (D-WA), Nay
Carper (D-DE), Yea
Chafee (R-RI), Nay
Chambliss (R-GA), Yea
Clinton (D-NY), Yea
Coburn (R-OK), Yea
Cochran (R-MS), Yea
Coleman (R-MN), Yea
Collins (R-ME), Yea
Conrad (D-ND), Yea
Cornyn (R-TX), Yea
Craig (R-ID), Yea
Crapo (R-ID), Yea
Dayton (D-MN), Yea
DeMint (R-SC), Yea
DeWine (R-OH), Yea
Dodd (D-CT), Yea
Dole (R-NC), Yea
Domenici (R-NM), Yea
Dorgan (D-ND), Yea
Durbin (D-IL), Nay
Ensign (R-NV), Yea
Enzi (R-WY), Yea
Feingold (D-WI), Nay
Feinstein (D-CA), Yea
Frist (R-TN), Yea
Graham (R-SC), Yea
Grassley (R-IA), Yea
Gregg (R-NH), Yea
Hagel (R-NE), Yea
Harkin (D-IA), Yea
Hatch (R-UT), Yea
Hutchison (R-TX), Yea
Inhofe (R-OK), Yea
Inouye (D-HI), Nay
Isakson (R-GA), Yea
Jeffords (I-VT), Nay
Johnson (D-SD), Yea
Kennedy (D-MA), Not Voting
Kerry (D-MA), Nay
Kohl (D-WI), Yea
Kyl (R-AZ), Yea
Landrieu (D-LA), Yea
Lautenberg (D-NJ), Nay
Leahy (D-VT), Nay
Levin (D-MI), Nay
Lieberman (D-CT), Nay
Lincoln (D-AR), Yea
Lott (R-MS), Yea
Lugar (R-IN), Yea
Martinez (R-FL), Yea
McCain (R-AZ), Yea
McConnell (R-KY), Yea
Menendez (D-NJ), Nay
Mikulski (D-MD), Yea
Murkowski (R-AK), Yea
Murray (D-WA), Nay
Nelson (D-FL), Yea
Nelson (D-NE), Yea
Obama (D-IL), Yea
Pryor (D-AR), Yea
Reed (D-RI), Nay
Reid (D-NV), Nay
Roberts (R-KS), Yea
Rockefeller (D-WV), Yea
Salazar (D-CO), Nay
Santorum (R-PA), Yea
Sarbanes (D-MD), Nay
Schumer (D-NY), Yea
Sessions (R-AL), Yea
Shelby (R-AL), Yea
Smith (R-OR), Yea
Snowe (R-ME), Yea
Specter (R-PA), Yea
Stabenow (D-MI), Yea
Stevens (R-AK), Yea
Sununu (R-NH), Yea
Talent (R-MO), Yea
Thomas (R-WY), Yea
Thune (R-SD), Yea
Vitter (R-LA), Yea
Voinovich (R-OH), Yea
Warner (R-VA), Yea
Wyden (D-OR), Yea

[CWOJackson]

Congress can stop the fence down the line in many different ways; cutting funding and without a line item veto it would work, tie it up in countless committee hearings, etc. Give Democrats control of the House or Senate in November and the fence will be dead.

[Lurker]

I posit that the taking of any lands (public or private) for the regulation of commerce between a foreign nation and any of the United States is not only unconstitutional:

You posit wrong.

I predict that the Supreme Court will weigh in on this.

They already have.

L

[Jeff Head]

See my post 89.

[jlasoon]

Because most people in here get there talking points from Vanity and can't think for themselves.

You won't get any disagreements from me, this is nothing more then the repubs needing votes.

[Just mythoughts]

Yes Hillry is up for reelection but she is not worried about her Senate seat she is planning for a return to the White House.

Else why would the supposed newly declared independent Lieberman be voting against Border Security??????