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In Border Fence's Path, Congressional Roadblocks
The Washington Post ^ | Friday, October 6, 2006 | Spencer S. Hsu

Posted on 10/06/2006 12:34:29 AM PDT by MinorityRepublican

No sooner did Congress authorize construction of a 700-mile fence on the U.S.-Mexico border last week than lawmakers rushed to approve separate legislation that ensures it will never be built, at least not as advertised, according to Republican lawmakers and immigration experts.

GOP leaders have singled out the fence as one of the primary accomplishments of the recently completed session. Lawmakers plan to highlight their $1.2 billion down payment on its construction as they campaign in the weeks before the midterm elections.

Shortly before recessing late Friday, the House and Senate gave the Bush administration leeway to distribute the money to a combination of projects -- not just the physical barrier along the southern border. The funds may also be spent on roads, technology and "tactical infrastructure" to support the Department of Homeland Security's preferred option of a "virtual fence."

What's more, in a late-night concession to win over wavering Republicans, GOP congressional leaders pledged in writing that Native American tribes, members of Congress, governors and local leaders would get a say in "the exact placement" of any structure, and that Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff would have the flexibility to use alternatives "when fencing is ineffective or impractical."

Loopholes leave the Bush administration with authority to decide where, when and how long a fence will be built, except for small stretches east of San Diego and in western Arizona. Homeland Security officials have proposed a fence half as long, lawmakers said.

"It's one thing to authorize. It's another thing to actually appropriate the money and do it," said Sen. John Cornyn (R-Tex.). The fine-print distinction between what Congress says it will do and what it actually pays for is a time-honored result of the checks and balances between lawmakers who oversee agencies and those who hold their purse strings.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Mexico; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: aliens; border; fence; immigrantlist; immigration; mexico; treasonmedia; wall; wallofamerica
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To: MNJohnnie

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1714847/posts


21 posted on 10/06/2006 8:52:25 AM PDT by tumblindice ("Remember, keep close to the people--they are always right and will mislead no one." A. Lincoln)
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To: tumblindice
Simply pathetic how desperately eager supposed "Conservatives" are to fall for every Democrat October Surprise that comes along. This "news story" is NONESE. It another drive by by the Junk Media.
22 posted on 10/06/2006 9:01:39 AM PDT by MNJohnnie (Say Leftists. How many Nazis did killing Nazis in WW2 create? or Samurai? or Fascists?)
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To: MNJohnnie; Dane

I respectfully disagree. You have supplied nothing specifically to respond to my expressed concern: `this executive has done little to safeguard our southwestern border by enforcing existing laws, so why should he be expected do anything in the future?' except to express your (excited) consternation with FR `hysterics' and "junk media". The article mentions President Bush's desire for a "guest-worker" (amnesty) program. I have no reason to think, particularly after recent statements made by his press secretary, that he has changed his position on securing the border to reflect the wishes of the majority of Americans, much less conservatives.

For some reason I'm reminded of the Steelers Wheel song:
"Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right and here I am--stuck in the middle with . . . " well, no, not with you.


23 posted on 10/06/2006 9:17:58 AM PDT by tumblindice ("Remember, keep close to the people--they are always right and will mislead no one." A. Lincoln)
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To: MNJohnnie
Are you suggesting that we should fall for every Republican surprise that comes along?

Sorry, Sir but I am not quite the fool that you are.

Republican encumbents will be surprised when we go to the voting booth. Of course President Globalist Bush won't give a damn how we vote. He's set for life now.

24 posted on 10/06/2006 9:24:07 AM PDT by B4Ranch (Illegal immigration Control and US Border Security - The jobs George W. Bush refuses to do.)
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To: B4Ranch

Yeah like I am ever going to waste time responding to a hysteric Fringer 3rd partyite like you B4. You are one of the politically irrelevant 1%. Anyone who has read your posting knows your mind was made up WAY before any facts are even presented.


25 posted on 10/06/2006 9:34:27 AM PDT by MNJohnnie (Say Leftists. How many Nazis did killing Nazis in WW2 create? or Samurai? or Fascists?)
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To: MNJohnnie
You seem to be of the opinion that Congress and the President WANT this fence built. That this story is all lies because Congress appropriated the money and the President will spend it appropriately. Have I got that right?

If that's the case, you're SEVERELY naive.

If they wanted this fence built, it'd have been COMPLETED, sea-to-shining-sea by 9/11/02, no questions asked as a matter of national security.

The truth is,that neither Congress, nor the President WANT this border secured. They showed us that with the President and 24 republican senators joining with 31 Democrat senators to push that fugly border amnesty bill down our throats.

And lets keep in mind that this is only about 1/5 of the money that's going to be needed to pay for even this measly 700 miles. I don't intend to hold my breath waiting for them to appropriate the rest, thank you very much.

By hook or by crook, they'll stop this fence deal. If that means throwing money into roads and worthless sensors so that they don't have to build the fence, that's the LEAST that they'll do to stop it.

26 posted on 10/06/2006 9:48:40 AM PDT by HeartlandOfAmerica ('... we want the human rights officers, we want the Americans to come back' - Abu Ghraib Prisoner)
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To: MNJohnnie

Does it upset you that I posted the exact words of Texas Republican and key liaison to the White House on immigration, Sen. John Cornyn?

Maybe you can get him to retract what he said.


27 posted on 10/06/2006 10:12:51 AM PDT by B4Ranch (Illegal immigration Control and US Border Security - The jobs George W. Bush refuses to do.)
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To: RKBA Democrat
This reminds me of the law passed to allow for the arming of pilots. The bureaucracy managed to stop that program.

The same will happen here. The politicians don't want a border fence. It's only because conservative voters have been getting uppity of late that they've even considered the issue.

Exactly true.

I predict that they'll actually end up building less than 100 miles of "fencing" and call the program a failure. 

28 posted on 10/06/2006 10:48:37 AM PDT by zeugma (I reject your reality and substitute my own in its place. (http://www.zprc.org/))
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To: HeartlandOfAmerica
You seem to be of the opinion that Congress and the President WANT this fence built. That this story is all lies because Congress appropriated the money and the President will spend it appropriately. Have I got that right?

If you've spent any time on the illegal immigration threads, you know that he wants the status quo and shamnesty. It's all a part of the game to keep the rubes clueless about what is actually happening in Washington. We're expected to simply believe that now that a vote has happened, the clear will of the people will actually be done. Those of us who have watched all the handwaving long enough know that they have zero intent of actually shutting down the flood of illegals.

29 posted on 10/06/2006 10:53:44 AM PDT by zeugma (I reject your reality and substitute my own in its place. (http://www.zprc.org/))
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To: B4Ranch

I am really angry about this. This is going to stick with me on November 4th and the encumbents won't like it. I want them all out of there. Americans have been double crossed. Voting third party.


30 posted on 10/06/2006 5:44:53 PM PDT by harveyrabbit
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To: MNJohnnie

"NONE of the information in this "news story" is true. IT NONSENSE being spun by people by the DNC noise machine"

Can you back this up with facts, please? Otherwise, your rant is getting tiresome.


31 posted on 10/06/2006 8:50:46 PM PDT by dcwusmc (The government is supposed to fit the Constitution, NOT the Constitution fit the government!)
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To: B4Ranch

Nothing will be built, and we will have another 4 million illegals by 08!


32 posted on 10/06/2006 11:39:49 PM PDT by stephenjohnbanker (Our troops will send all of the worlds terrorists to hell in a handbasket with no virgins!)
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To: zeugma

"If you've spent any time on the illegal immigration threads, you know that he wants the status quo and shamnesty. It's all a part of the game to keep the rubes clueless about what is actually happening in Washington. We're expected to simply believe that now that a vote has happened, the clear will of the people will actually be done. Those of us who have watched all the handwaving long enough know that they have zero intent of actually shutting down the flood of illegals."

So transparent, it makes you want to scream!


33 posted on 10/06/2006 11:42:25 PM PDT by stephenjohnbanker (Our troops will send all of the worlds terrorists to hell in a handbasket with no virgins!)
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To: Kimberly GG

I guess the MCDC will need to pick up the slack.


34 posted on 10/06/2006 11:42:38 PM PDT by Texasforever (I have neither been there nor done that.)
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To: MinorityRepublican

To hell with Princess Diana, the answer is STARING us in the face. MINE the borders !!!After a few hundred dead illegals, migration will crawl to a stop .After all they are ILLEGAL


35 posted on 10/07/2006 5:57:57 PM PDT by LC HOGHEAD ("Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things evil and inhumANE)
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To: LC HOGHEAD
MINE the borders !!!

I tend to agree with you on this. The economic value of it would have it ready in a very short time and it would not require much upkeep. Dead animals and people could cause a problem with stench, but that would only be for the first year during the learning process. Our friends and enemies south of the border could use it as a means of execution for it's unwanted element. The left would do everything they can to make us feel guilty for anything that happens as a result of it's existence, especially if they continue to lose national elections.

36 posted on 10/10/2006 4:45:14 AM PDT by Dixie Yooper (Ephesians 6:11)
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