Border security gets overwhelming approval in Senate

Washington Times:

Border security prevailed in the first major skirmish on immigration since President Bush's broad guest-worker bill collapsed last month.

The Senate yesterday passed $3 billion in emergency spending for immigration and border enforcement, adding it to the 2008 homeland security spending bill, while the House late Wednesday passed a measure that would free two U.S. Border Patrol agents serving time for shooting a fleeing illegal-alien drug trafficker in the buttocks.

"The Senate demonstrated today that it overwhelmingly supports tough border security, and we hope the president shows us he shares our concern by dropping his irresponsible threat to veto the homeland security spending bill," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Nevada Democrat.

Mr. Bush's immigration bill, negotiated with a select group of Republican and Democratic senators, failed last month in a filibuster joined by a majority of the Senate. In its wake, both parties rush to fill the void with piecemeal measures, such as increased enforcement, a new guest-worker program for agriculture workers and a legalization program for illegal-alien college students.

Yesterday's $3 billion amendment pays for high-tech border surveillance and thousands more border agents over the next five years.

It passed 89-1, with Sen. George V. Voinovich, Ohio Republican, casting the sole opposing vote. Mr. Voinovich said he supports increased border security but refused to "burden our children and grandchildren with another $3 billion of debt."

But for most Republicans, adding the border-security money makes the bill more attractive and could entice them to stand up to Mr. Bush's veto threat.

"I think it is safe to say on the issue of border security, Senate Republicans have not been pleased with the administration's progress and are not particularly reluctant to have a vigorous discussion with the administration about the appropriateness of adequately funding border security," said Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Kentucky Republican.

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Reid had earlier rejected Sen. Cornyn's amendment, but I think later realized this was they way to get a veto proof majority to support other aspects of the bill. It appears he got that and more, if they can get the House to go along. For Republicans who opposed the amnesty provisions of the original immigration reform proposals this looks like a clear win with out the amnesty baggage.