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June 13, 2007
Senate GOP Urges Bush to Secure Borders
Senate GOP Urges Bush to Secure Borders
washingotn post.com
Senate Republicans pressed President Bush to show a more determined commitment to border security when they met behind closed doors today during a rare presidential appearance on Capitol Hill.
The meeting was described as cordial, even jovial, but Bush's efforts to rally GOP support for his sweeping overhaul of the nation's immigration laws did not appear to win any converts.
"We're off the bill. We ought to stay off the bill for awhile," said Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), one of the legislation's sternest critics.
Bush and senior administration officials painted the meeting as a rescue session, coming five days after the tenuous compromise on immigration collapsed on the Senate floor. Bush made an impassioned plea for the legislation.
Following the meeting, Bush told reporters that he understands "this is a highly emotional issue, but . . . now is the time to move a comprehensive" immigration bill. He added that Senate proposal "is the best way to enforce our border. I believe without the bill that it's going to be harder to enforce the border. The status quo was unacceptable."
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) marveled at the president's passion and commitment.
But, he said, "We didn't expect anyone to stand up and holler that they had an epiphany."
Apparently, they didn't.
"We . . . have lost credibility in Washington on the issue, and I think before the American people will really ever get behind an immigration policy, they're going to have to feel that Washington is truly going to follow through on what it says," said Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.).
Much of the conversation revolved around steps Bush could take to convince the public his administration was serious about border security laws that have already passed Congress. Georgia's two Republican senators, Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson, appealed to Bush to quickly send up a multi-billion request to fund not only the border security provisions in the pending bill, but also additional funds for detention beds, border fencing and vehicle barriers approved last year.
The provisions in this year's bill alone would cost $6.2 billion.
Nine other Republican senators delivered a letter to the president, suggesting a push now to secure the borders could yield political dividends on a future bill.
"We respectfully ask that your Administration enforce the border security laws that have already been authorized by Congress regardless of whether the Senate passes the immigration reform bill," the letter reads. "Securing the border is the best way to restore trust with the American people and facilitate future improvements of our immigration policy."
Bush's visit to Capitol Hill came as Senate Majority leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) has urged him to deepen his involvement in the fight for the legislation. But some Republicans have charged that Reid was simply goading the president, setting Bush up to take full responsibility for the measure's defeat.
The rescue mission that Bush is embarking on may well be too little, too late. Reid said yesterday that he is willing to bring the immigration bill back to the Senate floor after passage of a major energy bill, probably late next week. But he wants an agreement to limit the amendments to be considered and the time for debate, which would take unanimous consent. A single senator could thwart that demand, and Sessions suggested that opponents of the bill are not about to agree to those conditions, no matter how hard Bush pushes.
Without unanimity, any move to bring the bill to a final vote would take at least five days. The architects of the plan are confident that with 60 firm votes lined up to block any filibusters, Reid would have no choice but to make good on his pledge to try again.
But Reid has made it clear that he would rather dedicate the remaining days on the Senate's calendar to addressing issues considered more pressing by the Democratic base, particularly soaring energy costs and the war in Iraq. After the July 4 recess, the Senate will have only a few weeks to plow through 11 critical spending bills before the August recess.
Bush put pressure on Reid today in his remarks. "I would hope that the Senate majority leader has that same sense of desire to move the . . . bill that I do and these senators do," he said, "because now is the time to get it done."
Wild Thing' comment.........
Great line mentioned on Rush today : Hoover Dam was built, largely with manual labor, in 5 years and one year under budget. The Empire State Building was built in just over 400 days.
Why can't a piddlin' 800 mile fence be built in a year? Every day day we delay the border fence the problem gets bigger. Can’t those fools understand that simple fact of life?
Posted by Wild Thing at June 13, 2007 12:40 AM
Comments
I know plenty of people who are willing to lie up and start building!!!!
But I'm just wondering if Bush views it as another Berlin Wall fiasco.
I don't think a wall is going to do it.
They'll still find a way in.
We have to make it so hard and so difficult that they don't or won't come here--ever!
That's what we have to do.
Maybe even if they're caught, put them in internment camps for a certain amount of time. I know that sounds cruel, but holy cow, we HAVE to look out for ourselves, too!
Posted by: Lynn at June 13, 2007 04:16 AM
Ya'll gotta love Alabama.
Oh fare thee well, you belles of Spain
And fare thee well to Liza Jane!
Your charms will all be put to shame
By Rose of Alabamy.
Hopefully now some more Rebels will come forward and defeat this anti-American bill.
Posted by: Mark at June 13, 2007 09:15 AM
There have been almost 6 years since 9/11 to secure our borders. We "uncomprehending public" know that the border is more pourous because politicians and interest groups want it that way. Everyone pushing this "comprehensive?" immigration bill is a liar. We public knaves understand this, especially those of usin NASCAR country.
Posted by: TomR at June 13, 2007 12:21 PM
Alabama's Senator Jeff Sessions is a patriot and would make a GREAT U.S. President. So would South Carolina's Senator Jim DeMint. Never thought President George W. Bush would $ELL out hos own party - never!
Posted by: darthcrUSAderworldtour07 at June 13, 2007 12:33 PM
Lynn, I agree, it has to be more then the Wall. But if they did everything to stop it, it would work, I truly believe it would work. And no more illegals, but none of our leaders would ever take it as far as we want to stop this insanity.
1. wall
2. more border agents
3. business fined, jailed and punished for hiring illegals
4. send every last one of the illegals back no matter how long it takes
5. close both borders north and south and mean business no excuses
6. stop people coming in from Muslim countries no matter if they are student visa's or for any reason.
radical? yep but if we want to protect this country things have to be done in a strong way.
Posted by: Wild Thing at June 14, 2007 12:42 AM
Mark that was great, thank you.
I pray that more take a stand on this, they must know we are watching and taking names and will rememeber when it comes time to vote again.
Posted by: Wild Thing at June 14, 2007 12:44 AM
Tom......"Everyone pushing this "comprehensive?" immigration bill is a liar.".....they sure are, and stupid too if they even think we will believe them. But then I don't think they even care if we believe them, they have only used us as a vote and nothing more. Very upsetting for sure.
Posted by: Wild Thing at June 14, 2007 12:47 AM
Darth, yes, and I will never forget nor forgive any of this they are trying to do and who is doing it too.
Posted by: Wild Thing at June 14, 2007 12:50 AM
