Thread: House authorizes 700 miles of fence

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/4188274.html


House authorizes 700 miles of fence
•Republicans act to salvage part of immigration bill

By BENNETT ROTH
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON - House Republicans pushed through legislation Thursday to build 700 miles of fencing along the U.S.-Mexico border, trying to salvage part of a broader immigration bill that has stalled.

"The fact that we can't do everything does not mean we should do nothing," said Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., chairman of the Homeland Security Committee.

The legislation passed 238-138, with 64 Democrats joining all but six Republicans in voting for the measure.

It was unclear whether the Senate, which has approved 370 miles of fencing, would take up the separate House measure in the two weeks remaining before lawmakers leave to campaign for re-election. The Senate has also included $1.8 billion in a defense spending bill for building a fence.

The House bill provides no funding for the fence. Republicans previously estimated the barrier would cost $2.2 billion.

Democrats criticized the legislation as an election-year stunt that underscored the GOP's failure to agree on long-term immigration changes.

The House's original immigration bill called for a variety of enforcement measures against illegal immigration. The Senate version included similar security measures plus a guest-worker program and a chance for citizenship for illegal immigrants; the chambers have not tried to formally negotiate about the differences.

"Why are we here?" Rep. Alcee Hastings, D-Fla., asked Thursday. "We got an election. So you got to do something to put on a bumper sticker."

Rep. Silvestre Reyes, D-El Paso, a former Border Patrol agent, criticized making the fence a top priority when, he said, there were more pressing needs, like more law enforcement personnel on the border.

The legislation would authorize building layered, reinforced fencing along the 2,000-mile Southwest border, including about 300 miles of barriers in Texas running from Laredo to Brownsville, from outside Del Rio to Eagle Pass, and from a segment of the New Mexico border to east of El Paso.

Immigration has emerged as an issue in the Nov. 7 congressional elections, with House Republicans saying that many of their conservative supporters want hard-line measures to keep out illegal immigrants.

In Arizona this week, a conservative Republican who backed strict border enforcement won a primary for an open House seat over a moderate candidate backed by GOP leaders.

Outside of the border areas, it is unclear how significant the immigration issue will be in the upcoming election. A Pew Research Center Poll, conducted Sept. 6-10, and released Thursday, found that immigration ranked behind Iraq, terrorism and economy as the most important issues for voters.

Chronicle reporter Patty Reinert contributed to this report.

bennett.roth@chron.com

The House bill provides no funding for the fence. Republicans previously estimated the barrier would cost $2.2 billion.

So what does this mean? That they had the amount and failed to include it in the bill? Are they planning on the fiscal note being approved by the Senate? OR is this just a stupid trick before the elections?

They better clarify. We need to find out what this means.

Originally Posted by Judy

The House bill provides no funding for the fence. Republicans previously estimated the barrier would cost $2.2 billion.

So what does this mean? That they had the amount and failed to include it in the bill? Are they planning on the fiscal note being approved by the Senate? OR is this just a stupid trick before the elections?

They better clarify. We need to find out what this means.

I think it means we will need to press these turkeys with another flood of e-mails and phone calls to ensure funds are provided for the fence before this session of congress ends. If the Democrats win control of the House in the next session we can kiss it all good-bye!

Originally Posted by Judy

The House bill provides no funding for the fence. Republicans previously estimated the barrier would cost $2.2 billion.

So what does this mean? That they had the amount and failed to include it in the bill? Are they planning on the fiscal note being approved by the Senate? OR is this just a stupid trick before the elections?

They better clarify. We need to find out what this means.

Clarification = shell game. They are just trying to fool voters into voting for their lazy, do nothing a$$es again. Vote for the fence, but fail to fund it. Haven't we seen this dog and pony show before? Yep and it's all being orchestrated by King Jorge Bush II.

The House bill provides no funding for the fence. Republicans previously estimated the barrier would cost $2.2 billion.

Didn't they already approve funding several months ago?
Well this is allot better deal than what it would cost to grant them all amnesty.
I seriously doubt this bill will make it through the Senate. Then we are back to square 1.
Does this seem to be a little election 'ploy' by the Reps to maintain their power?
I hope I'm wrong, but that's what it seems like to me.

This fence should have been approved and built four years ago!!

The nonesense that goes on in Washington! Vote all as many CFR members and shamnesty supporters out in November America! our SAFETY AND SOVEREIGNTY DEPEND ON IT!

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Originally Posted by Judy

The House bill provides no funding for the fence. Republicans previously estimated the barrier would cost $2.2 billion.

So what does this mean? That they had the amount and failed to include it in the bill? Are they planning on the fiscal note being approved by the Senate? OR is this just a stupid trick before the elections?

They better clarify. We need to find out what this means.

I spoke to Sue Myrick’s staff last year on border security and they told me that each year they authorize the use of the military on the border but do not require it.

They just authorized a fence but are not funding it, nor are they requiring it to be build.

Yes Judy, it is just a stupid trick.

Border games

By Michelle Malkin · September 14, 2006 09:14 PM

Yes, I know. The House voted to approve a 700-mile fence at the southern border. Press release:

Speaker of the House J. Dennis Hastert (R-IL) today issued the following statement after passage of H.R. 6061, Secure Fence Act of 2006. The bill passed 283-138-1 with 131 Democrats voting against the measure.
"Every year, nearly one million illegal immigrants cross into America. This is a clear threat to our safety. Some of these people are coming for work, but countless others are drug dealers, gang members and some are even terrorists. That is why building this fence is common sense. And if we build the fence, it will be harder for them to come here illegally.

"It should concern the American people that 131 Democrats voted against creating this security fence along our southern border. They don't want border security; instead they would rather jeopardize our national security and put Americans at risk.

That's all true. But forgive me if I don't break out the pom-poms over this. There's no funding for the fence, which will take years to build if it ever does get funded. There are so many other immediate reforms that could have been adopted this year that would have strengthened immigration enforcement, closed deportation loopholes immediately, and provided true relief at the border. (And don't even get me started on this administration's renewed laxity at the front door, which has been thrown open to tens of thousands of new Saudi student visa holders while enforcement against millions of current visa overstayers remain virtually non-existent.)

The 700-mile fence vote is an election season gesture, and grass-roots conservatives who have watched the GOP squander away this issue afor six years are not going to be appeased by mid-September 2006 gesture politics.


http://michellemalkin.com/index.htm

Yep....that's what I was afraid of. I can not believe they would do something this low down. But wait, Silly Me, this is the same group of fools letting King Jorge end our nation.

"God, please help US. We haven't always done it right the first time. We've not always been the best people on Earth. But We did always try and keep trying until We got it right. When the World needed US, our ancestors were there. We are alone now but for You and each other, and We are in grave danger. Please, dear Lord, help US save our Nation. It may not be perfect, but it's the Best Place on Earth so far and therefore worth saving if You don't mind my saying so. Please, God, help US save the United States of America. Amen".