Thread: Senate Moves War Money To Border Control

http://www.drudgereport.com/

Senate Shifts Iraq Funds to Border Patrols
Apr 26 1:17 PM US/Eastern
By ANDREW TAYLOR
Associated Press Writer


WASHINGTON


The Senate voted Wednesday to divert some of the money President Bush requested for the war in Iraq to instead increase patrols against illegal immigrants on the nation's borders and provide the Coast Guard with new boats and helicopters.

An amendment cutting Bush's Iraq request by $1.9 billion to pay for new Border Patrol agents, aircraft and some fencing at border crossings widely used by illegal immigrants was adopted on 59-39 vote.



While the border security funds had sweeping support, Democrats and Republicans argued over whether the cuts to Pentagon war funds would harm troops on the ground in Iraq. The cuts, offered by Judd Gregg, R- N.H., trim Bush's request for the war by almost 3 percent but don't specify how.

The vote came in the wake of a toughly worded promise by the White House to veto the $106.5 billion measure unless it is cut back to below $95 billion.

Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., said Gregg's cuts would "take money from troop pay, body armor and even joint improvised explosive device defeat fund. Now that is a false choice and it is a wrong choice."

Gregg responded heatedly, arguing that the cuts eventually would come from other parts of the massive Pentagon budget rather than U.S. forces in Iraq.

"To come down here and allege that these funds are going to come out of the needs of the people on the front lines in Iraq or Afghanistan is pure poppycock," he said.

An amendment by Democratic Leader Harry Reid of Nevada to add the border security funds but not tap the Pentagon for them failed by a 54-44 vote.

In its veto statement, the White House said the bill contains too many items that are "unrelated to the war or emergency hurricane relief needs." It said a final House-Senate compromise on it "must remain focused on addressing urgent national priorities while maintaining fiscal discipline."

The move is likely to force senators to drop most of their $14 billion in add-ons for farm aid, highway repairs, aid to the Gulf Coast fishing industry and other projects. The additional money had won the ire of the White House and GOP congressional leaders and scorn from conservatives allies whose support is crucial on Election Day.

The bill is sure to be carved back in House-Senate negotiations next month, and Bush may very well not have to follow through on his veto promise.

The White House statement said farm aid in the bill is unnecessary after a booming 2005 crop year and that a controversial $700 million relocation of a Mississippi freight rail line would unfairly put taxpayers on the hook for privately owned infrastructure.

To accommodate the White House's objections would require the Senate to shed numerous projects. That would represent a departure from how disaster aid was handled in December, when Congress added $12 billion in new spending not requested by Bush.

Even as the White House raised the potential of a first-ever Bush veto, the administration on Tuesday asked the Senate for $2.2 billion more to repair and strengthen levees in and around New Orleans. The request wouldn't add to the overall cost of the bill since it was accompanied by a decrease in Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster funds.

The White House acknowledges that FEMA coffers would have to be replenished again in the fall instead of next year under the proposal.

Bush insists that total spending in the bill be capped at his $92.2 billion request for Iraq and hurricane relief, though he is willing to accept $2.3 billion in the bill to prevent an outbreak of avian flu. His February budget anticipated the funding, but the White House has been slow to follow up with a detailed request.

Gregg chairs the Appropriations Homeland Security Subcommittee. His border security plan focuses used on the capital needs of the Border Patrol and the Coast Guard, including new planes, helicopters, ships, communications equipment and a project to build a fence along the Mexico border near San Diego.

Gregg said his plan would "give the people who are defending us on our borders, the border security agents, the Custom agents, the Coast Guard, the tools they need to do their job right _ the unmanned vehicles, the cars, the helicopters which are a critical part of our fight in the war on terrorism. It has to be done now."

The underlying bill contains $67.6 billion for Pentagon war operations and $27.1 billion for hurricane relief, including grants to states to build and repair housing and $2.1 billion for levees and flood control projects. The funding for hurricane relief exceeds Bush's request by $7.4 billion.

To date, Congress has provided about $315 billion for the war in Iraq and anti-terror spending since September 2001.
_

Senate votes to divert war funding to border security
President threatens veto of $106.5 billion spending bill

Wednesday, April 26, 2006; Posted: 1:17 p.m. EDT (17:17 GMT)


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Manage Alerts | What Is This? WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Senate voted Wednesday to divert some of the money President Bush requested for the war in Iraq to instead increase patrols against illegal immigrants on the nation's borders and provide the Coast Guard with new boats and helicopters.

An amendment cutting Bush's Iraq request by $1.9 billion to pay for new Border Patrol agents, aircraft and some fencing at border crossings widely used by illegal immigrants was adopted on 59-39 vote.

While the border security funds had sweeping support, Democrats and Republicans argued over whether the cuts to Pentagon war funds would harm troops on the ground in Iraq. The cuts, offered by Judd Gregg, R-New Hampshire, trim Bush's request for the war by almost 3 percent but don't specify how.

The vote came in the wake of a toughly worded promise by the White House to veto the $106.5 billion measure unless it is cut back to below $95 billion.

Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-New York, said Gregg's cuts would "take money from troop pay, body armor and even joint improvised explosive device defeat fund. Now that is a false choice and it is a wrong choice."

Gregg responded heatedly, arguing that the cuts eventually would come from other parts of the massive Pentagon budget rather than U.S. forces in Iraq.

"To come down here and allege that these funds are going to come out of the needs of the people on the front lines in Iraq or Afghanistan is pure poppycock," he said.

An amendment by Democratic Leader Harry Reid of Nevada to add the border security funds but not tap the Pentagon for them failed by a 54-44 vote.

Rare veto treat
In its veto statement, the White House said the bill contains too many items that are "unrelated to the war or emergency hurricane relief needs." It said a final House-Senate compromise on it "must remain focused on addressing urgent national priorities while maintaining fiscal discipline."

The move is likely to force senators to drop most of their $14 billion in add-ons for farm aid, highway repairs, aid to the Gulf Coast fishing industry and other projects. The additional money had won the ire of the White House and GOP congressional leaders and scorn from conservatives allies whose support is crucial on Election Day.

The bill is sure to be carved back in House-Senate negotiations next month, and Bush may very well not have to follow through on his veto promise.

The White House statement said farm aid in the bill is unnecessary after a booming 2005 crop year and that a controversial $700 million relocation of a Mississippi freight rail line would unfairly put taxpayers on the hook for privately owned infrastructure.

To accommodate the White House's objections would require the Senate to shed numerous projects. That would represent a departure a disaster aid bill was handled in December, when Congress added $12 billion in new spending not requested by Bush.

Over $2 billion requested for levees
Even as the White House raised the potential of a first-ever Bush veto, the administration on Tuesday asked the Senate for $2.2 billion more to repair and strengthen levees in and around New Orleans. The request wouldn't add to the overall cost of the bill since it was accompanied by a decrease in Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster funds.

The White House acknowledges that FEMA coffers would have to be replenished again in the fall instead of next year under the proposal.

Bush insists that total spending in the bill be capped at his $92.2 billion request for Iraq and hurricane relief, though he is willing to accept $2.3 billion in the bill to prevent an outbreak of avian flu. His February budget anticipated the funding, but the White House has been slow to follow up with a detailed request.

Gregg chairs the Appropriations Homeland Security Subcommittee. His border security plan focuses used on the capital needs of the Border Patrol and the Coast Guard, including new planes, helicopters, ships, communications equipment and a project to build a fence along the Mexico border near San Diego.

Gregg said his plan would "give the people who are defending us on our borders, the border security agents, the Custom agents, the Coast Guard, the tools they need to do their job right -- the unmanned vehicles, the cars, the helicopters which are a critical part of our fight in the war on terrorism. It has to be done now."

The underlying bill contains $67.6 billion for Pentagon war operations and $27.1 billion for hurricane relief, including grants to states to build and repair housing and $2.1 billion for levees and flood control projects. The funding for hurricane relief exceeds Bush's request by $7.4 billion.

To date, Congress has provided about $315 billion for the war in Iraq and anti-terror spending since September 2001.


http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/04/26/ ... index.html

I just hope this isn't some of that "Imaginary money!"

If this happens, it means our voices are being heard, people.

As they asked on Lou Dobbs last night...what is DHS doing with it's 30 BILLION dollar budget? What one thing can they point out that the money is going for??

MJ

Originally Posted by JuniusJnr

I just hope this isn't some of that "Imaginary money!"

If this happens, it means our voices are being heard, people.

I'm sorry, JuniusJnr, but I'm way to cynical at this point to believe that.

There was no reason they have to "take it away from the troops". These clowns piss away more money than that in any given week.

This is a diversion to con people into thinking they really care about the border. If they actually do allocate this money, it will be spent on Spanish language lessons and diversity training for the BP which will require a whole new hierarchy at the BP. That's where the additional BP staffing will go.

Jeez, I'm so cynical these days, I'm beginning to scare myself.

Now if they would only divert several thousand soldiers.

I know, I know, I sound just like an illegal-- give them an inch and they want a mile.

There was no reason they have to "take it away from the troops". These clowns piss away more money than that in any given week.

CountFloyd, I understand that cynical attitude. How can we help but be cynical. Today they make it sound like we have some influence, tomorrow we are toast. I feel like a yo-yo soetimes.

I guess they think we will feel guilty over taking money from a war that shouldn't be happening. The solution to that is BRING ALL THE TROOPS HOME! That surely must be in the budget.

Now they say that Bush wants an immigration bill by the end of the year. Suuuuuurrrrrrreeeeee he does.

Well CountFloyd I think you are closer to the truth than you realize.. All cynicism aside, funds may not be diverted for diversity training for the BP, but my Representative Darrell Issa submitted a 1 MILLION Dollar request by the University of San Diego for Border education that has nothing to do with his district:
http://issa.house.gov

Project Location: San Diego

Project Requested By: University of San Diego

Center for Applied Research in Border Education and Human Development

USD’s Center for Applied Research in Border Education and Human Development would address the issue of education in the border regions of the United States and Mexico. The center would fund research and design of replicable models to benefit education systems along the border.

Requested Amount: $1,000,000

Now admittedly some of his other requests are very important to his constituents, this one however is an illegal alien giveaway. I already emailed my displeasure

LunaLun, YIKES! Yes! look at all t he money FEMA gave away to hurricane victims like that dude at some undamaged resort who lost business because his potential customers didn't come because they lost their houses.

We all need to watch where this money goes and make sure our representatives do likewise.

The government's solution to everything is to say "we're spending money on it". It's what the public has been trained to expect.

How much has been spent so far on Katrina?

Of that, how much has been mishandled or just plain stolen?

Who knows? The important thing is that is was spent - it's irrelevant whether spending the money accomplished anything it was supposed to.

The same goes for Iraq. $10 billion per month, for as long as it takes.

As long as it takes to do what, you ask? Well, don't ask, because nobody knows. The next administration will have to figure that out, so says the President himself.

So for them to say they'll spend $1.9 billion "on the border" means absolutely nothing. Maybe they'll use it to buy a Krispy Kreme franchise for all those new BP agents to frequent.