Posted on 12/17/2007 8:48:52 PM PST by Ultra Sonic 007
MAXWELL, Iowa--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The omnibus Consolidated Appropriations bill includes a little-known provision that guts the major provisions of the Secure Fence Act of 2006. This provision -- buried on page 123 of Division E of the Consolidated Appropriations Act - contradicts the Secure Fence Act’s specific mandate of a double-layer fence covering 854 miles of the U.S-Mexico border.
Grassfire.org has been tracking this provision which was first introduced quietly by Sen. Hutchison this summer as S.Amdt. 2466 to H.R. 2368 (the DHS appropriations bill). “The Hutchison amendment gives DHS virtually total discretion over how and where the fence is built,” says Grassfire.org President Steve Elliott. “In fact, DHS would not be required to build fencing in any particular location -- and the double-layer mandate is totally gone.”
In its report on the “Fence Funding Hoax,” Grassfire has chronicled how the plan to gut the Secure Fence Act was actually hatched the day the bill passed the Senate in 2006. (View that report.) “I find it odd that such an important amendment which releases DHS from specific requirements of an existing law would be passed by a simple voice vote in the Senate and then buried in the massive omnibus bill,” says Elliott. “The American people reasonably expect that a double-layer fence will be built but Congress has always had other plans. This amendment should be stripped from the final omnibus bill.”
Resources:
Text of omnibus bill: http://www.rules.house.gov/110_fy08_omni.htm
(To view Hutchison Amendment, select “Division E” and view page 123)
Grassfire.org’s special report on the Funding Hoax:
http://www.firesociety.com/article/19402/
For more information about Grassfire.org, or to schedule an interview with Grassfire President Steve Elliott, contact Ron De Jong at 757-487-7900 or email ron@grassfire.org
Ping of TOTAL OUTRAGE!
I actually believe, the money is already gone. It went to the virtual fence. I think Boeing said it failed? I pinged you all to that a few days ago.
This bill is to cover that lost money.
It’s way past the time to throw the bums out of office.
Words can not express my disappointment with this Omnibus bill. The Congress is stuck on stupid.
Jorge gave Kay her marching orders.
These bozos had no intention on building the fence. They are all bought out by the anti-American crowd
Unless you Congressman or Senator is 100% on border security and illegal-alien suppression....vote them out
ping
Where might a record of this voice vote be located? I want to see where our wonderful Liddy Dole landed on this one, since she’s being painted as tough on the issue.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1939249/posts?page=3#3
Giuliani has financial interests in that Virtual Fence.
Conflict of INTEREST???
Campaign Funding: Kay Bailey Hutchison (R, Texas)
Top 20 Contributors:
Contributor Total PACs Indivs
7. Bracewell & Giuliani $27,300 $10,000 $17,300
>>>..."SBInet," it may eventually monitor 6,000 miles of the U.S. borders with Mexico and Canada. The government has withheld final payment on the initial $20 million contract while Boeing fixes glitches.<<<<<
Is this what Chertoff allocated the PHYSICAL border fence money to????
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119689136413514923.html?mod=hps_us_whats_news
Concerns Raised on Border Fence: Lawmaker Seeks To Delay Handover Of the Boeing System
In a letter sent late yesterday to Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, Rep. Bennie Thompson (D., Miss.) cited continuing concerns by the committee that problems with the virtual-fence system known as Project 28 aren't fixed. The committee also is concerned that the effort doesn't give agents the technological advantages Boeing has promised.
Further delay of a project already almost six months behind could set back the credibility of both the effort and of Boeing. It also signals a determination by lawmakers to keep a sharp eye on how Homeland Security buys from the defense industry. Boeing's project is part of a larger effort estimated to cost taxpayers at least $8 billion through 2013, although a government watchdog has warned the costs could triple.
The effort is designed to make agents more effective at stopping smugglers and illegal immigrants by substituting technology for personnel. Known as "SBInet," it may eventually monitor 6,000 miles of the U.S. borders with Mexico and Canada. The government has withheld final payment on the initial $20 million contract while Boeing fixes glitches. Representatives for both Boeing and Homeland Security said they hadn't seen Mr. Thompson's letter.
Boeing has been waiting to turn over the first 28-mile section of the fence since the end of November. If the project is accepted, the government will operate the system alongside Boeing during a 45-day test period that may result in a formal handoff early next year.
...To track a smuggler, an agent in a vehicle can remotely operate a camera and radar system mounted atop a 98-foot tower. Officials have said the system will be capable of locating a person five miles away or a moving car at three times that distance. The network will be overseen by command centers that have the ability to tap into every tower.
Anyone else want to know where the INITIAL $20 million dollars came from???
Giuliani and his partners also did the legal work for the company building the NAFTA Superhighway
Sen Hutchinson sounds like another Lone Star pro-illegal/anti-American fraud
>>>>Giuliani and his partners also did the legal work for the company building the NAFTA Superhighway
Reference:
Bracewell & Giuliani Firm Advises Cintra in First Privatization of Toll Road in Texas
DALLAS (March 1, 2007) Bracewell & Giuliani LLP advised Cintra Concesiones de Infraestructuras de Transporte, S.A., a Spanish transportation company, in its successful bid to develop State Highway 121 into a toll road through Collin and Denton counties.
The award to Cintra, approved by the Texas Transportation Commission, is the first privatization of a Texas toll road. Bracewell is acting as project counsel to Cintra with respect to the 50-year concession from the Texas Department of Transportation. Cintra will pay a $2.1 billion upfront and annual lease payments totaling $700 million. “Cintra was awarded this project because of its proven expertise and competitive proposal,” said Thomas O. Moore, partner with Bracewell & Giuliani. “This is the largest transportation deal of 2007. This is one of only five deals in the country.”
Three firms have competed for the Comprehensive Development Agreement for State Highway 121 since last summer. The proposals were reviewed and scored based on selection criteria set forth by the Regional Transportation Council, the metropolitan planning agency for the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
This CDA is a public-private partnership that allows the provider to handle all facets of developing the toll road, including completing construction and operating and maintaining the corridor. Cintra, a subsidiary of Grupo Ferrovial specialized in toll roads and car parks, is one of the world’s leading private-sector developers of transport infrastructure.
Oh, one more tidbit for kicks and giggles.
Chertoff and Giuliani use to work in NYC together prosecuting organized crime.
***Sen Hutchinson sounds like another Lone Star pro-illegal/anti-American fraud***
Isn’t she going to run for Governor when Perry becomes the VP?
If Hutchison does run for governor and wins, once she would step down as senator a temporary appointment would be made by the governor to fill the Senate seat until an election would be held.
Yup.
Didn't I read that his firm is also connected with FOX news?
No tin foil required to connect the dots.
Rudy has been annointed.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.