After a lot of talk and no action the Senate finally made a small step forward when it approved funding this past week for a small 370 mile fence along the southern border. The approval includes funding for 500 miles of vehicle barriers as well. While this is a great start in attempting to secure our borders it does show that they are not willing to actually put their foot fully down on stopping the flow of illegal aliens into this country.
It seems more as an appeasement attempt to those of us who want it to fully end and for us to make the one time sacrifice needed at securing our borders from not only illegal aliens, but terrorists, drug cartels and other criminal enterprises. The amount of money spent on all of these issues each year could easily be put into a one time payment and decrease the funds we spend annually by a great deal.
The Senate bill still includes things like amnesty for illegal aliens and amnesty for employers who have hired illegal aliens. The Senate also voted against securing the border before putting in place all kinds of guest worker and amnesty schemes. The bill in essence sells illegal aliens American Citizenship for about $2000. So don't be too fooled into thinking they really care about this issue.
For now I guess we'll have to be satisfied with this smaller effort as it doesn't seem those in the Senate actually want to do anything, but continue to play politics and "fool America" into thinking they actually want to solve the problem.
The main problem with the border fence amendment in the Senate bill is that it is almost guaranteed never to be built. Included in the bill was the stipulation that any fencing to be built must be consulted on by the Mexican government. This approval of funds seems to simply be to repair the damage to their image that was done last month.
In mid-July I reported that the Senate voted down the funding for the border fence. I guess the public outcry at their hypocrisy of approving the border fence in their "Comprehensive Immigration Reform" bill and then voting down funding needed finally got to them.
Washington Times
The amendment's sponsor said senators were so embarrassed by that July 13 vote that most felt they had to reverse course and vote for it this time -- especially after so many were on record in May voting to build the fence in the first place. The amendment, which provides nearly $2 billion for the project, passed 94-3, with 66 senators switching from "no" to "yes" votes since last month.
"I think people wanted to get right," said Sen. Jeff Sessions, Alabama Republican. "People heard from their constituents after they voted to authorize the fence in May and then voted against funding it a couple of weeks ago."
Tipped by: Stop the ACLU
