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Senate Bill Grants Napolitano Waiver of Border Security Provisions
Townhall.com ^ | June 24, 2013 | Bob Beauprez

Posted on 06/24/2013 9:05:53 AM PDT by Kaslin

No wonder Janet Napolitano supports the latest evolution of the Gang-of-Eight's immigration reform legislation; it specifically gives her the unilateral authority to ignore the key border security provisions.

Late last Friday, Napolitano issued the following statement of supportfor the border security amendment offered by Republican Senators John Hoeven (ND) and Bob Corker (TN):

"The president has made clear that commonsense immigration reform legislation must include measures to strengthen border security, create a path to earned citizenship, crack down on employers that hire undocumented workers, and streamline our legal immigration system so everyone is playing by the same set of rules.  The border security amendment agreed to by a bipartisan group of Senators is in line with that criteria.  It will devote important additional resources to the robust border security system this administration has put in place and strengthen what was already an unmatched piece of border security legislation."

Originally hyped as a major get-tough improvement to the Gang of Eight's border security provisions intended to attract more Republican support, Corker volunteered to reporters that the "Gang has been involved" in drafting the amendment, noting in particular that two of the most liberal Democrats, "Senator Schumer and Senator Menendez have been very active."

Knowing that, it comes as no surprise to learn that the so-called Hoeven-Corker amendment specifically gives the Secretary of Homeland Security the sole discretion to waive the provisions to build hundreds of miles of new fencing and the installation of technological equipment to aid in securing the border. 

Regarding the border fence, according to theWashington Times, the 1190 page "amendment" reads that "nothing in this subsection shall require the secretary to install fencing, or infrastructure that directly results from the installation of such fencing, in a particular location along the southern border, if the secretary determines that the use of placement of such resources is not the most appropriate means to achieve and maintain effective control over the southern border at such location."

The Hoeven-Corker legislation also calls for very specific installation of technology including, 685 ground sensors, 50 towers, 73 fixed video cameras, and 28 mobile surveillance systems.  But, again the bill gives the Napolitano or her successors waiver authority "if the secretary determines that an alternate or new technology is at least as effective as the technologies described in paragraph (3) and provides a commensurate level of security." 

Hoeven-Corker also mandates an increase in "the number of trained full-time active duty U.S. Border Patrol agents deployed to the Southern border to 38,405."  How that rather specific number of agents was determined is unclear, but the secretary gets eight years –until September 30, 2021- to ramp up to that level.

Those watching the debate on both sides are predicting lawsuits in bunches if a bill is eventually signed into law, which would likely stall implementation of various provisions of the legislation, as well. 

However, regardless of whether any fencing, technology, or agents ever get deployed, or border security ever improves, "immigrants will be given permanent status in ten years no matter what" according to Byron York, chief political correspondent for theWashington Examiner, who has meticulously followed the Senate's deliberations.  

The Senate is expected to vote on Hoeven-Corker as early as Monday, June 24 after having only the weekend to review the 1200 pages of complex legislative language.  Want to make a bet as to how many of the Senators will have read the bill before they vote on it?

York actually calculated the task at hand: 3 days, 16 hours a day, 24 pages and hour.  "That's certainly doable," York says, "But, it's also not easy, because reading the amendment requires comparing the new text to the original text of the bill to try to spot changes."  Then there's the obvious – what Senator is going to spend the weekend doing that anyway?

Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) has assigned 100 page sections of the Hoeven-Corker amendment to members of his staff to review.  Rest assured that he is the exception.  Last Thursday, before the text was even available, Senator Corker told reporters that fourteen Republicanswere ready to support the bill as rewritten.

Something seems likely to pass the Senate.  It also appears that the House may pass their own version of Immigration reform legislation, but likely not until September at the earliest.  That means a Conference Committee would need to be formed to reconcile differences in the two bills (likely significant differences) as Congress enters full blown campaign season before the 2014 elections.  Then it's anybody's guess if both chambers would pass the Conference compromise, and if the President would sign or veto it.So, as badly as a good solution needs to be found to a major problem that has been decades in the making, our bet is that the efforts of this Congress will yield the same result as the several previous ones – not much.




TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Editorial; Government
KEYWORDS: aliens; bobbeauprez; borderfence; bordersecurity; bordersecuritywaiver; fakebordersecurity; gangof8; immigrationbill; janetnapolitano; napolitano

1 posted on 06/24/2013 9:05:53 AM PDT by Kaslin
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To: Kaslin

2 posted on 06/24/2013 9:07:25 AM PDT by Travis McGee (www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com)
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To: Kaslin
"It is much more important to kill bad bills than to pass good ones." – Calvin Coolidge
3 posted on 06/24/2013 9:08:05 AM PDT by Cannoneer
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To: Kaslin

Doesn’t matter. Nappy has already told Congress that she can pick and choose which laws to enforce anyway.


4 posted on 06/24/2013 9:13:38 AM PDT by sheana
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To: sheana
Big sis is watching tea partiers but will let all illegals into the USA and they can use fake SSNs etc. no problemo


5 posted on 06/24/2013 9:20:45 AM PDT by Democrat_media (IRS rigged election for Obama and democrats by shutting down tea party)
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To: sheana

The Heath care Act(Obamacare) Places authority in the hands of Sebelius. Great power to control all phases of our health care.

Now this bill would place great power in the hands of Napolitano.

Little lesbian dictators.

What could possibly go wrong.

Good Gawd people do we need these little fiefdoms in our government. This is unadulterated Horse $hyt.


6 posted on 06/24/2013 9:21:01 AM PDT by Venturer
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To: Venturer; All

Stop Amnesty.

Tell congressmen we don’t want ANY bill passed, no matter what they promise. This bill is Amnesty for 30 million illegals, and a 1000 page bill that brings in 80 million 3rd world immigrants. The bill will destroy the U.S. and will turn the USA into a socialist state as is the democrats/Obama’s plan.

To call your Member of Congress:
US Capitol Switchboard (202) 224-3121

To locate your Member on-line:
U.S. House of Representatives: www.house.gov
U.S. Senate: www.senate.gov

Call all remaining GOP members of the US Congress to back the efforts of those fighting back.

Call and say “I am calling to ask Congress member ___________ to support Michele Bachman, Steve King, and Louie Gohmert’s effort to demand that Speaker John Boehner stop trying to help Obama and the Democrats pass amnesty for illegal aliens. Please sign their petition to require the Speaker to honor the ‘Hastert Rule’! If the Senate passes an amnesty for illegal aliens, it will be important that the House refuses to pass any immigration legislation in 2013! Stop the amnesty legislation!”

ALIPAC’s Contact List for GOP Members of Congress....
ALIPAC’s US Congress Contact List

Remember to call, call, call! Regardless of where you live, call all that you can and get others involved with the calls. Once you call, try to send in a written reinforcement of your message by website,twitter,Email, facebook, fax, or mail.

http://www.alipac.us/f8/revolt-house-against-amnesty-needs-your-backing-281274/


7 posted on 06/24/2013 9:26:21 AM PDT by Democrat_media (IRS rigged election for Obama and democrats by shutting down tea party)
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To: Cannoneer

"It is much more important to kill bad bills than to pass good ones." – Calvin Coolidge

Hear, hear! Senators Session and Cruz agree!

8 posted on 06/24/2013 9:27:46 AM PDT by Jane Long (While Marxists continue the fundamental transformation of the USA, progressive RINOs stay silent.)
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To: Cannoneer
As M. Stanton Evans would say,"We have two parties here, and only two. One is the evil party, and the other is the stupid party. I'm very proud to be a member of the stupid party. Occasionally, the two parties get together to do something that's both evil and stupid. That's called bipartisanship."

That's why this immigration bill should die a quick death!!
9 posted on 06/24/2013 9:32:23 AM PDT by Stayfree (If it is left, then it can't be right!)
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To: Kaslin

Need a law that prevents HupA, SFI, traitors from being elected to our Congress, or allowed to vote against the Constitutional interests of Americans. Removal by hanging would be appropriate.


10 posted on 06/24/2013 9:45:53 AM PDT by Huskerfan44 (Huskerfan44)
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To: Cannoneer
From Powerline:

"The major problem with the bill is its overhaul of the legal immigration system; it authorizes somewhere between 30 million and 60 million new immigrants over the next ten years, 90% of them low-skill and low-wage, the overwhelming majority from Mexico. If this bill passes, illegal immigration will be a moot point. Legal immigration will devastate America’s working class, driving down wages, raising unemployment, and putting an unprecedented burden on local, state and federal welfare systems.

This bill has strongly negative effects on the "working poor" generally and African-Americans in particular. Given the Democrats usual definitions of racism, this bill is extremely racist.

11 posted on 06/24/2013 10:00:19 AM PDT by cookcounty (IRS = Internal Revenge Service.)
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To: Venturer

“great power in the hands of Napolitano”

At page 37 of this POS act, it calls for “initial funding” in excess of 44 billion dollars to Comrade Janet. That’s a lot of .40 cal.


12 posted on 06/24/2013 10:27:01 AM PDT by tumblindice (America's founding fathers: All armed conservatives.)
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To: tumblindice

44Billion tgo ignore tem


13 posted on 06/24/2013 10:50:56 AM PDT by Venturer
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To: Kaslin
No rational citizen should support ANY law that transfer the power of elected officials, to unelected and unaccountable appointed political hacks, of ANY party.

In today's climate of endemic corruption and criminality, should it be necessary to explain why?

14 posted on 06/24/2013 11:16:22 AM PDT by publius911 (Look for the Union label, then buy something else.)
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To: Democrat_media
Do elected officials in DC actually answer the phones?
Do emails actually get read? or 'deleted' every few hours?

Snail Mail might actually be read, at least briefly, before being tossed. As far as I know, there is no rule or law that compels the elected criminals to keep a permanent record of contacts by constituents.

15 posted on 06/24/2013 11:19:59 AM PDT by publius911 (Look for the Union label, then buy something else.)
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To: publius911

Phone calls are best, faxes are better than email and snail mail...so I’ve been told ;)


16 posted on 06/24/2013 11:21:16 AM PDT by Jane Long (While Marxists continue the fundamental transformation of the USA, progressive RINOs stay silent.)
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To: Jane Long
Phone calls are best, faxes are better than email and snail mail...so I’ve been told ;)

I am sorry to hear that you actually believe that.

Check this thread out and see if there might be a connection to your naïve acceptance.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3034748/posts

""There are 55,000 individuals, small savers, many farmers and breeders, professionals, families and small businesses who simply believed what the state told them, which was to invest in solar energy," Martinez-Aroca said.
"Then we were ruined," he said, denouncing a "swindle and deception by the state" which lowered payments for such panels by 40 percent.

17 posted on 06/24/2013 11:36:41 AM PDT by publius911 (Look for the Union label, then buy something else.)
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To: publius911
What on Earth are you talking about?!

My comment was regarding phone calls and faxes to STOP AMNESTY. Why did you call me naive and post info about solar energy? Are you drinking early today?

18 posted on 06/24/2013 11:42:38 AM PDT by Jane Long (While Marxists continue the fundamental transformation of the USA, progressive RINOs stay silent.)
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To: tumblindice

44 Billion dollars to fund Amnesty, That’s a drop in the bucket to what it will cost us, but why does it need funding at all?


19 posted on 06/24/2013 12:04:34 PM PDT by Venturer
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To: Jane Long
My comment was regarding phone calls and faxes to STOP AMNESTY. Why did you call me naive and post info about solar energy? Are you drinking early today?

Sorry.
I assumed you had normal memory and reading comprehension.
I was referring to your casual "... so I've been told." statement.

Have a nice day.

20 posted on 06/24/2013 12:07:14 PM PDT by publius911 (Look for the Union label, then buy something else.)
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