Spending bill shrinks border fence

[Army_of_One]

By S.A. Miller and Stephen Dinan
December 18, 2007

Congress last night passed a giant new spending bill that undermines current plans for a U.S.-Mexico border fence, allowing the Homeland Security Department to build a single-tier barrier rather than the two-tier version that has worked in California.

The spending bill, written by Democrats and passed 253-154 with mostly their votes, surrenders to President Bush's budget demands, meeting his spending limit with a $515 billion bill to fund most of the federal government and setting up votes to pay for the Iraq war. But Democrats reached his goal in part by slashing his defense and foreign-aid priorities to pay for added domestic spending.

The concessions promise to end a months-long budget standoff before Congress adjourns for the year and takes a Christmas break scheduled to start by Friday. In a rare two-step maneuver, the House first voted 253-154 to approve the bill to fund most of the civilian Cabinet agencies, and then voted 206-201 to add about $30 billion for Afghanistan war-spending to the measure.

But the measures did not pass before House Republicans blasted the changes to the border fence.

"The fact that this was buried in a bloated, 3,500-page omnibus speaks volumes about the Democrats' unserious approach on border security and illegal immigration," said House Minority Leader John A. Boehner, Ohio Republican. "Gutting the Secure Fence Act will make our borders less secure, but it's consistent with the pattern of behavior we've seen all year from this majority."
The 2006 Secure Fence Act specifically called for "two layers of reinforced fencing" and listed five specific sections of border where it should be installed. The new spending bill removes the two-tier requirement and the list of locations.

House Democrats said they were just adopting the Senate version, which was backed by a bipartisan group of border-state senators and passed the Senate several times this year.

Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, the Texas Republican who has led the charge to change the 2006 law, said she wants to give Homeland Security more flexibility and wants local officials and landowners to be consulted.

Spending bill shrinks border fence*-*-*The Washington Times, America's Newspaper

[Highwayman]

But Democrats reached his goal in part by slashing his defense and foreign-aid priorities to pay for added domestic spending.

It sounds like the Carter and Clinton administrations.

But don’t question their patriotism. They support the troops.

[Army_of_One]

Originally Posted by Highwayman

It sounds like the Carter and Clinton administrations.

But don’t question their patriotism. They support the troops.

Yeah...just not our troops.

[Highwayman]

Originally Posted by Army_of_One

Yeah...just not our troops.

No kidding.

Hillary had something on her website once about supporting troops with a picture of Canadian troops.

Move On dot org did a TV ad for Thanksgiving one year showing Aussie troops.

[Army_of_One]

Next thing you know 60 minutes or MSNBC will have a feature on the plight of AL qaeda....

[K C Muffin]

Originally Posted by Army_of_One

Next thing you know 60 minutes or MSNBC will have a feature on the plight of AL qaeda....

God, Army - let's not give them any ideas

[Highwayman]

Originally Posted by Army_of_One

Next thing you know 60 minutes or MSNBC will have a feature on the plight of AL qaeda....

What plight? Harry Reid says al Qaeda is doing fine.

"Who's winning?" Reid asked a group of reporters. "Big Oil, Big Tobacco. ... Al Qaeda has regrouped and is able to fight a civil war in Iraq. ... The American people are losing."

Reid rejects notion that GOP is winning Hill battles - The Crypt's Blog - Politico.com

BTW, the Senate passed $70B for funding Iraq and Afghanistan today. Probably why Reid is crying alligator tears.

Senate OKs $70B for Iraq, Afghanistan - Yahoo! News

[spike52]

A fence is not going to work.
Never.
There's entirely too much border to cover.
Tougher immigration laws & boots on the ground are the only things going to work.


Even when they build sections, things don't always work out as planned.

Border Fence Built In Mexico By Mistake, Fixing 1- To 6-Foot Error May Cost $3 Million - CBS News

Finally, the illegals are getting smart, they know manpower is limited and have begun using that to their advantage.

Pat Dollard | Young Americans | Blog Archive » Video: Violent Attacks On Our Border Agents Increasing