The Keep Terrorist Out of America Act

Fox News:

Republicans are trying several tactics to prevent detainees at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, from reaching the United States, introducing legislation aimed at stopping the transfer of terrorists and offering amendments to an emergency war funding bill to deny funding for closing the facility.

Republican leaders accuse President Obama of endangering American lives by calling for Gitmo to be closed without a plan as to where the detainees will go next.

Several GOP lawmakers on Thursday introduced the Keep Terrorists Out of America Act, which prohibits the Obama administration from transferring or releasing any suspected terrorists at Guantanamo to any state without expressed approval from the state's governor and legislature. The legislation also demands the administration certify to Congress that certain requirements have been met.

"The world did not suddenly become safe in January 2009. There are still terrorists around the world who are committed to killing Americans and destroying our way of life. A number of those terrorists are being held at the prison in Guantanamo Bay right now," said House Minority Leader John Boehner. "If the administration is allowed to proceed, they won't be there for long. In fact, they may be right here, in the United States."

As Boehner spoke, the House Appropriations Committee began debating a $96.7 billion emergency spending bill to end the war in Iraq and pay for operations in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Not included in the legislation, which passed the panel on Thursday afternoon, is funding to close the detention center at Guantanamo Bay.

House Appropriations Committee Chairman Dave Obey, D-Wis., said the Obama administration has yet to submit a "concrete" plan on how to handle the detainees, so its request for cash has not been incorporated.

But that didn't stop Rep. Frank Wolf, R-Va., from trying unsuccessfully to include an amendment in the spending bill to ban funding to transfer detainees from Guantanamo Bay.

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Texas Democrat Chet Edwards made the dubious claim that closing Gitmo could make us safer. I think most voters disagree with Edwards on that point. Besides how can anyone vote against the Keep Terrorists Out of America Act. It will require some explaining in the next election. Edwards has always been pretty glib so he may be able to fool the voters again, but less wily Democrats should have second thoughts.