Dems at work to undermine the will of the people

[Abbey Marie]

One big reason why I support Hunter...

HUNTER FIGHTING TO OVERTURN HOUSE DEMOCRATS FENCE REDUCTION

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 18, 2007
Washington, D.C.

Presidential candidate Congressman Duncan Hunter returned to Washington this morning to immediately begin his efforts to overturn provisions contained in a Democratic spending bill that eliminates current legal requirements for double-layered border fencing. Congress last year passed legislation authored by Hunter, the Secure Fence Act, mandating double-layered fencing and related infrastructure at strategic entry points along the Southwest border.
"Now is the time when those who take the threat to our nation's borders seriously stand up and be counted," said Hunter. "Last year, Congress successfully passed legislation that mandated a double fence requirement based on the success of the border fence we've built in San Diego. The Democrat majority in this Congress has taken it upon themselves to overturn federal law to pursue a policy that does nothing but harm our border enforcement capabilities. This is not leadership, it is irresponsibility.

"Border enforcement is too serious of an issue to pursue only when politically convenient at election time. If Congress is to reverse its border stance after just one year, what message does that send to illegal immigrants and drug smugglers who are watching to see how serious we are about protecting America's borders? I believe we must uphold our nation's immigration laws, support our agents serving on the border and protect our border communities and I am going to make every effort to overturn the damage this Democrat leadership has caused."

H.R. 2764, a bill that provides funding for several federal departments and agencies, was brought to the House floor and passed late last evening by the Democratic leadership. Not only does the bill contain provisions removing all specific locations as outlined by the Secure Fence Act, it also removes all requirements to construct any fencing or physical barriers along the border. This action basically repeals the Secure Fence Act and undermines past efforts to secure our nation's border.
...

From: Hunter for President, Inc.

[JohnDoe]

http://www.firesociety.com/article/19402/?src=105

seems to me that Republicans, like kay bailey hutchison (R) of texas, are at the helm of this?


But the very same day that the Senate passed the Secure Fence Act, Senate leaders had already hatched a plan to, in essence, un-do the Act. More precisely stated, Congress passed another law giving the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)discretion over how and where the fence would actually be built. That night, after the Secure Fence Act was passed, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison rose to the floor of the Senate and expressed her concern that the Act was too restrictive and would impose too much of a burden on Texas' border communities. Hutchison then submitted into the record two letters written earlier that day. The first was a letter she had received from Majority Leader Bill Frist earlier in the day addressing Sen. Hutchison's concerns; the second, Frist's letter to House and Senate leaders issuing specific legislative directives related to Hutchison's concerns. The letter made three stipulations:

1. Congress "will work with the Department of Homeland Security" (DHS) to consult with state governments, local governments, and Native American tribes "regarding the exact placement of fencing and other physical infrastructure along the southwest border of the United States."
2. Legislation will give DHS "flexibility to use alternative physical infrastructure" instead of fencing when DHS sees fit.
3. The legislation will "clarify the definition of operational control of the border" to ensure a "workable standard for the Department."

Read Hutchison's comments and Frist's letter from the Congressional Record (.pdf).

[Hagbard Celine]

All they're doing is following the "LIB HANDBOOK" word for word. I don't see what the big deal is. :dunno: