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  1. #1
    Senior Member Brian503a's Avatar
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    Byrd sides with GOP on border security

    http://www.dailymail.com/news/News/2006050216/


    Byrd sides with GOP on border security

    Jake Stump
    Daily Mail Staff

    Tuesday May 02, 2006

    Democratic Sen. Robert C. Byrd is serious about bolstering border security, even if it means standing by Republicans on the same side of the issue.

    Byrd, West Virginia's senior senator, cosponsored an amendment with Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H., that strengthens border security by $1.9 billion.

    The amendment passed the Senate floor on a 59 to 39 vote. Byrd was one of only seven Democrats voting in favor of the amendment, tacked onto the $106.5 billion fiscal 2006 emergency supplemental bill. Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., is still recovering from back surgery and did not vote.

    The Senate is expected to vote on the entire bill later this week.

    Byrd believes a tight border not only secures the United States from potential terrorists, but it also deters illegal immigration.

    Often labeled as a liberal by conservative pundits, Byrd has joined Republicans on several issues in recent weeks including defeating a proposal that would have granted amnesty to millions of illegal immigrants.

    "If we are truly serious about securing our borders -- and not just engaging in rhetoric and hot air -- then we will put real dollars where the rubber hits the road," Byrd said.

    "We know that as security at our land borders is tightened, illegal aliens, drug runners, and terrorists will turn to our waterways for entry into this country."

    The $1.9 billion proposal would foot the bill for new equipment and resources for border patrol agents. About $120 million would build fencing and tactical border infrastructure.

    Another $150 million would be directed toward communications equipment, sensors and cameras.

    The FBI and Homeland Security would get $60 million to fund their fingerprint databases.

    The amendment also provides $790 million for new helicopters, fixed wing aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles.

    In delivering a speech in support of what's been billed the Gregg Amendment, Byrd noted that last week the only unmanned aerial vehicle active in the border patrol fleet crashed and is out of commission.

    "There is no excuse that the U.S. border security teams have one single UAV to patrol the nearly 2,000 miles along the U.S.-Mexico border," he said. "And then, to have that plane crash in the Arizona desert is simply embarrassing."

    Byrd is the leading Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Gregg is Homeland Security chairman.

    Last year, Byrd also cosponsored an initiative with Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, in gaining $273 million that helped hire 500 new border patrol agents.
    "There's nothing political about protecting the American people," said Tom Gavin, Byrd spokesman.

    Though Byrd has become some sort of ally to Republicans on this issue on the floor, he still scrutinizes President Bush for not providing adequate funding or resources for the borders.

    The Gregg Amendment is part of the larger Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act that would pay for the Iraq war and Hurricanes Rita and Katrina.

    The White House sent a letter to senators, including Byrd, threatening to veto the bill because its cost estimate is too much.

    "The Bush Administration continues to have a huge credibility gap when it comes to homeland security," Byrd said.

    "How serious is this administration about port security when it decides to allow Dubai Ports World to control six major U.S. ports and the president, vice president, secretary of defense and secretary of Homeland Security don't even know the decision was made?"

    Contact writer Jake Stump at 348-4842.
    Support our FIGHT AGAINST illegal immigration & Amnesty by joining our E-mail Alerts at http://eepurl.com/cktGTn

  2. #2
    sherbug's Avatar
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    Often labeled as a liberal by conservative pundits, Byrd has joined Republicans on several issues in recent weeks including defeating a proposal that would have granted amnesty to millions of illegal immigrants.

    Wonderful news. Finally, they are looking at this situation and seeing how these people are trying to hold us hostage until their demands are met. No Way, Jose. No pun intended.

  3. #3
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    Hopefully more Democrats will have a change of heart.

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