One major obstacle overcome. There is now money to pay for approx. 300 miles of fence. Not a complete solution, but a good start IMHO.

However, has the President signed HR6061 that authorizes 700 miles of fence? That's the other obstacle. And I haven't heard about any such signing of that bill. Anybody know? I thought BOTH bills had to get signed into law, for us to get a fence.

----------------------------------------------------------

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15131303/

Bush signs bill paying for new U.S. border fence

$1.2 billion for border part of $33.8 billion domestic security package

Updated: 12:20 a.m. PT Oct 4, 2006

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - President Bush on Wednesday signed a law that will pay for hundreds of miles of new fences along the U.S.-Mexico border, a move against illegal immigration that Republicans had sought before next month’s congressional elections.

Bush had hoped to address the illegal immigration issue in a comprehensive way that would have brought beefed-up border security as well as a temporary guest worker program allowing the immigrants to work legally in the United States.

He spent months advancing the idea but failed to overcome doubts from many Republicans on Capitol Hill who derided the guest worker program as an “amnesty” that would give illegal immigrants a route to citizenship.

Under the legislation, about $1.2 billion would be spent during the fiscal year that began Oct. 1 for southwest border fencing and other barriers. The money is part of a $33.8 billion package for domestic security programs that are being bolstered following the Sept. 11 attacks.

An estimated 12 million illegal immigrants live in the United States, many of whom entered through the porous border with Mexico.

Mexico had strongly objected to the fence, which it saw as a slap in the face to efforts during President Vicente Fox’s near completed six-year term to negotiate an agreement with Washington on immigration.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Text of the bill Bush signed today:

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/...oxqucq:e14047:

H.R.5441
Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2007 (Enrolled as Agreed to or Passed by Both House and Senate)

------------------------------------

BORDER SECURITY FENCING, INFRASTRUCTURE, AND TECHNOLOGY

For expenses for customs and border protection fencing, infrastructure, and technology, $1,187,565,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, That of the amount provided under this heading, $1,159,200,000 is designated as described in section 520 of this Act: Provided further, That of the amount provided under this heading, $950,000,000 shall not be obligated until the Committees on Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives receive and approve a plan for expenditure, prepared by the Secretary of Homeland Security and submitted within 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, to establish a security barrier along the border of the United States of fencing and vehicle barriers, where practicable, and other forms of tactical infrastructure and technology, that--

(1) defines activities, milestones, and costs for implementing the program;

(2) demonstrates how activities will further the goals and objectives of the Secure Border Initiative (SBI), as defined in the SBI multi-year strategic plan;

(3) identifies funding and the organization staffing (including full-time equivalents, contractors, and detailees) requirements by activity;

(4) reports on costs incurred, the activities completed, and the progress made by the program in terms of obtaining operational control of the entire border of the United States;

(5) includes a certification by the Chief Procurement Officer of the Department of Homeland Security that procedures to prevent conflicts of interest between the prime integrator and major subcontractors are established and a certification by the Chief Information Officer of the Department of Homeland Security that an independent verification and validation agent is currently under contract for the project;

(6) complies with all applicable acquisition rules, requirements, guidelines, and best systems acquisition management practices of the Federal Government;

(7) complies with the capital planning and investment control review requirements established by the Office of Management and Budget, including Circular A-11, part 7;

(8) is reviewed and approved by the Department of Homeland Security Investment Review Board, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Office of Management and Budget; and

(9) is reviewed by the Government Accountability Office.


[snip]

__________________
The Constitution isn't perfect, but it's better than the system we're using now.

Fences have never been effective at keeping illegals out. Border patrol & National Guard have recently been very successful. One border official recently stated that attempts over the last couple of months have gone down by 45%. That's huge, & there is a reason for that.

Mexicans pay a coyote up to 3000 American dollars to be guided across the border. They can't afford that, making only the equivalent of $6 to $10.00 per day. The realization that the odds of making it across the border is remote with 6 thousand National Guard has really been a deterent in changing their minds of even trying to cross.

I think this is an interesting take that has rarely been talked about. See what you think:

http://voiceofsandiego.org/articles/...es/61walsh.txt

Sounds like the fence is a boondoggle in the making to me...

__________________
He who learns but does not think is lost! He who thinks but does not learn is in great danger. --Confucius

Thus it is that in war the victorious strategist only seeks battle after the victory has been won, whereas he who is destined to defeat first fights and afterwards looks for victory.
--Sun Tzu

Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors.
--African proverb

So, a 700 mile long fence @ $1,200,000,000. That comes out to $1,714,285 per mile.
Hell, I'd like some of that action.

Additionally, this is to be erected in the most adverse locations, not previously conducive to successful illegal crossings. Why not build this barrier in the most used crossing sites?
Could it be that the Congressmen/ women want this to be an out of sight out of mind symbolic gesture? Hidden from view of the average US citizen, who more than not approves of this deterrent, but accessible for the ever-popular fly-in photo-op?

__________________
Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life

This is just one measure. When combined with everything else being done, it will make a difference.

__________________
http://www.fairtax.org

Elminate all taxes on income and replace with a national sales tax.

But there is a lot more that needs to be done. The American people need to continue to keep pushing this issue otherwise Congress will sit back and say, "Ok, we did something" and then forget about it.

__________________
"Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we."

President George W. Bush, 8-5-2004

Carolina Politics Online

THIS IS REAL HOPE AND CHANGE!

I agree. I just think they should get some praise for doing something at least.

__________________
http://www.fairtax.org

Elminate all taxes on income and replace with a national sales tax.

The fence is nice, but Sam is right. People need to keep pushing and make sure that ENFORCEMENT is made a top priority. Nice gesture with the fence, it will help, but we need to stop the primary reason they come here. Only then will their numbers truly begin to cease.

__________________
"A generation of American people which receives the answers to all its moral dilemmas by seeking intervention from Washington will be a people incompetent to decently regulate their own lives. Such a people will not remain moral or free for long."

"I believe ossamas and palestinian interpretation of islam is the most correct and logically sound." - metalted

I dont know why people say fences dont work. The'll work at stopping a whole lot more then are being stopped now. Professionals get around car alarms too...but people still buy them because it works against joe blow car thief.

And BTW..good job on building a 700 mile fence along a 2000 mile border. Mabye I should only put a car alarm on one of my doors. Man, I don't know whats wrong with congress. They need a kick in the ass from Lou Dobbs.

Yeah...here's another problem though. From today's Wash Post...

But shortly before recessing late Friday, the House and Senate gave the Bush administration leeway to distribute the money to a combination of projects -- not just the physical barrier along the southern border. The funds may also be spent on roads, technology and "tactical infrastructure" to support the Department of Homeland Security's preferred option of a "virtual fence."

What's more, in a late-night concession to win over wavering Republicans, GOP congressional leaders pledged in writing that Native American tribes, members of Congress, governors and local leaders would get a say in "the exact placement" of any structure, and that Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff would have the flexibility to use alternatives "when fencing is ineffective or impractical."

The loopholes leave the Bush administration with authority to decide where, when and how long a fence will be built, except for small stretches east of San Diego and in western Arizona. Homeland Security officials have proposed a fence half as long, lawmakers said.

"It's one thing to authorize. It's another thing to actually appropriate the money and do it," said Sen. John Cornyn (R-Tex.). The fine-print distinction between what Congress says it will do and what it actually pays for is a time-honored result of the checks and balances between lawmakers who oversee agencies and those who hold their purse strings.

In this case, it also reflects political calculations by GOP strategists that voters do not mind the details, and that key players -- including the administration, local leaders and the Mexican government -- oppose a fence-only approach, analysts said

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...ail/components

You're not even going to get 700 miles of fence out of this. It looks like it was pretty much a political stunt. Ugh.

__________________
Dan Da Man

-Imagination is the seed of empathy.

Nah, its still another billion in the right direction.

__________________
http://www.fairtax.org

Elminate all taxes on income and replace with a national sales tax.

No one ever said we were. It's been long predicted that this bill would fund about 300 miles of fence, cameras, roads, patrol vehicles, etc.

As I mentioned in the opening post, there's another bill passed by Congress that authorizes 700 miles of fence, but provides no funding for any of it. As of last night, it still hasn't been signed by the President. Now that this 300-mile funding has been passed and signed into law, I wonder if the 700-mile bill (HR6061) is now moot.

__________________
The Constitution isn't perfect, but it's better than the system we're using now.

I wonder if Halliburton will venture into the fence building field now. Perhaps KBR can take the contract.

..... maybe we could hire the illegals to build it for us?

__________________
"My friends, we live in the greatest nation in the history of the world. I hope you'll join with me as we try to
change it." -- Barack Obama

I'm Chicano, was that an in-your-face response?

You think Latinos are going to support racist people exactly like you?