Posted on 01/02/2008 7:34:33 AM PST by pissant
In a quiet act of defiance, the Senate approved a $555 billion omnibus spending bill that removed legal requirements mandating the federal government fund 854 miles of a double layer border fence spanning America's southwestern border.
The funding requirement was codified into law when Congress passed, and President George W. Bush signed, the Secure Fence Act (SFA) in 2006.
When the spending bill, which combines appropriations for a number of federal agencies, reached the Senate, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Tex.) attached S.Amdt. 2466 to the measure in order to silently gut the SFA's spending requirement.
The Hutchison amendment reads, "Nothing in this paragraph shall require the secretary of homeland security to install fencing, physical barriers, roads, lighting, cameras and sensors in a particular location along an international border of the United States, if the secretary determines that the use or placement of such resources is not the most appropriate means to achieve and maintain operational control over the international border at such location." Thus, critics argue the amendment results in a de facto repeal of the SFA.
"The Hutchison amendment gives DHS virtually total discretion over how and where the fence is built," commented Steve Elliott, president of Grassfire.org. "In fact, DHS would not be required to build fencing in any particular location - and the double-layer mandate is totally gone."
The double-layer border fence, which was premised on the fence erected outside San Diego, consists of two layers of fencing with a border patrol access road separating the fencing. California Congressman Duncan Hunter, who is also running for the Republican nomination, was instrumental in building the fence in San Diego and boasts the fence reduced the smuggling of drugs and people into San Diego by 90 percent. Mr. Hunter further contends his fence is virtually impenetrable.
"If you get over my fence, we sign you up for the Olympics immediately," Mr. Hunter repeatedly jokes on the campaign trail. The success of the San Diego fence was so great that Mr. Hunter wrote the SFA to extend it all the way across the southwest border.
But with the Senate's amendment, the fate of the fence remains in limbo and sets the stage for another congressional showdown on immigration now that the amended Senate version comes back to the House for consideration.
"Congress truly pulled the rug out from under us while we were doing our last-minute holiday shopping, deceiving the American people and only showing goodwill to the 12 million lawbreakers living among us," sates Chris Simcox, president of the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps. Mr. Simcox had pledged to rally his Minutemen to secure funding for the fence, and Mr. Hunter is prepared to do battle as well.
"If Congress is to reverse its border stance after just one year, what message does that send to illegal immigrants and drug smugglers who are watching to see how serious we are about protecting America's borders?" Mr. Hunter asked.
Most of congress are Turncoats. Last time we had that genre, there was a revolution.
We all need to ask where was Senator McCain on this issue since he keeps saying he has heard the American people. How come there was no one out there to let us know what they were trying to do?
McCain said he “heard the American people” but he often does things he thinks is best even if it is against what the American people want. That is the reason he will NEVER get my vote! We need Fred Thompson in the White House. He is the only one with an detailed immigration plan that will work and Fred would GET IT DONE! GO FRED!
At least then there’s some hope on light bulbs. Obviously legislation means nothing.
I just got off of the phone with Senator Hutchinson, and she explained that the fence is still required to be built, but that local officials will have the say as to WHERE it is to be built, rather than someone in Washington. She wanted to give more local input to protect landowners, etc.
It's not all that difficult, really. Democrats want more welfare-dependent bodies as voters and Republicans want cheap labor to keep big business dollars flowing to their campaign coffers. They do not think ahead any further than the next election, which historically speaking, most of them will win without much effort. Taxation without representation may be intolerable, but taxation with representation pretty much sucks, too.
She is lying.
Before you call my Senator a traitor, I suggest you read her voting record. She ia about as conservative as you will get.
I am not so sure. There have been issues locally in Texas, about the fence cutting off land owners from access to the Rio Grande, etc.
That way, the feds and the locals will have the excuse grounded in fear and their conspired inactions to take away more of our liberties, raise our taxes and create more agencies that make charts, issue statements and go on fact finding retreats and meetings.
Of course the perps will have crossed the southern border undetected, but not through the harbors or airports 'cause the gov was protecting us all there real good like.
Every elected office has term limits. They're called "elections".
If the constituents want Hutchison out, they can vote her out.
We don’t need a fence.
A line in the sand, step over it, you’re shot. Word gets out...no more problemo.
Oooops, won’t work in this PC government. How about prosecuting any idiot employer who “crosses the line”???
They gave total discretion to the Dept of Homeland security. There is no requirement for ANY double border fence. Hunter’s bill mandated 854 miles of DOUBLE border fence with a patrol road in between through the smuggling corridors of the SW.
QUISLING: a synonym for traitor, someone who collaborates with the invaders of his country.
U.S. Constitution, Article 4 Section 4:
"The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government,
1. The act of invading; the act of encroaching upon the rights or possessions of another; encroachment; trespass.
RE-ELECT NO ONE!
That is correct. The people of Texas voted her in.
She has done a great job.
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