US Senate Turns Back On Border Fence

The Evening Bulletin ^ | 1/02/2008 | Joe Murray

[mdittmar]

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.

[SlowBoat407]

Make me glad this headline would, if electric fence were.

[tx_eggman]

Surprise ... Surprise ... Surprise

[Nephi]

And the North American Union marches on.

[upchuck]

Screw the Federal Government!

There are currently several states implementing their own laws to thwart illegal aliens.

Some of these laws are being challenged in court. But the people writing are learning from this exercise. Eventually we’ll have a set of laws that can be implemented by the states that will be challenge proof.

Big bump to OK and AZ who have recently implemented tough laws.

[o_zarkman44]

Saw this earlier and I get madder as the day progresses.

Vote the bums out if they ignore the people!!!

[Zetman]

Make me glad this headline would, if electric fence were.

In the words of David Letterman (I think): "Hannah Montana - much more famous than Yoda Minnesota!!"

Know why, now we.

[ARE SOLE]

Betrayal.

[2ndDivisionVet]

US Senate (202) 224-3121
US House (202)225-3121
White House (202) 456-1414

Complete e-mail/fax list for Congress http://www.conservativeusa.org/mega-cong.htm

If they think they can get away with this, they have another thing coming! Call, e-mail, fax or write them until they know of our fury!!

[Zhang Fei]

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.

This is truly amazing. I understand she is pro-amnesty, but this is worse than amnesty - it's making it easier for new illegals to come in.

[ontap]

Kay Baily Hutchison is going to make a run for governor. We’ll see if we can put a little obstacle in her way. Never was nothing but a damn moderate.

[ElkGroveDan]

RINO is as RINO does.

Now where are those Kay Bailey Hutchison defenders who always wag their fingers when anyone calls her a RINO?

[Theodore R.]

This is what happens when Republican voters do a poor job of handling the party primaries.

[Dick Bachert]

Insanity is defined as doing the same things over and over while expecting a DIFFERENT RESULT:

RE-ELECT NOBODY!!!!!

[navyguy]

Hutchison owes the US public an explanation for stabbing them in the back. You can contact her here...

http://www.senate.gov/~hutchison/contact.html

Demand an answer. I did.

[navyguy]

I just sent Senator Hutchison the following email...

.........................................

Senator Hutchison,

As a taxpayer I demand to know why you added S.Amdt. 2466 to the recent budget, effectively undermining both the Secure Fence Act and the Rule of Law.

You owe an explanation to the public that pays for the presence of illegals. If you do not provide an explanation I will follow this mail with another demanding a list of the laws I am allowed to break with total impunity (I already know which laws illegals are allowed to ignore).

If you insist on undermining the Rule of Law then expect more mails like this from my fellow conservatives.

I and many others DEMAND an explanation. Lets hear it.

.........................................................

I’m waiting.

[gunservative]

We need term limits for every member of Congress. One term and yer out!

[Road Warrior ‘04]

Those dirty, no good son-of-a.....wait a minute, I lost my head. No, wait a minute, that comes later. They have gone totally against the will of "we", the people!

What happens now?

[NEPA]

Today I got a fund raising call from the Senate republican campaign committee looking for a donation. I let the lady waste her time with her sales pitch then refused to give anything and told her not a cent until the fence is built.

I'm sure I'm not the only one.