Senators back more drones at border (MCCAIN BIPARTISANSHIP ALERT)

Politico ^ | 2010-08-06 | Scott Wong

[rabscuttle385]

In a rare show of bipartisan cooperation, Senate Republicans on Thursday night joined their Democratic colleagues to pass legislation boosting border security funding by $600 million, including money for 1,500 new border personnel, a pair of unmanned drones and operating bases.

The Senate passed the Democrat-sponsored bill by unanimous consent and forwarded it to the House, which passed a similar $700 million proposal last week and could take up the Senate measure when members return for a special session next week.

The Senate bill would not add to the deficit - a concern of many Republicans - but would be paid for by hiking fees on so-called chop shops, foreign companies that use U.S. visa programs to import cheap labor from countries like India. Firms with more than 50 percent of their employees on H-1B work visas would be affected.

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Sen. John McCain, who previously introduced a similar border-security bill with Sen. Jon Kyl, praised the bill as a "significant piece of legislation" and requested that both Arizona Republicans be listed as co-sponsors. Moments earlier though, McCain's efforts to attach three amendments to the bill were rebuffed by Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), a chief sponsor.

One of those amendments would have provided $200 million for "Operation Streamline," a Bush administration program that requires federal criminal charges for those who cross the border illegally.

"I believe we have a lot more to do but this will contribute to our effort to get our border secured," McCain said on the Senate floor. "We will continue to fight for all of the provisions Senator Kyl and I put forward."

[HiJinx]

Ping!

[stephenjohnbanker]

” The last thing RINOs like McCain want is something effective against illegal immigration “

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