Senate Republicans filibuster $600 million for border security

Posted b y AzBlueMeanie:

In a related matter to the previous post, Republicans are engaged in a filibuster of $600 million in additional funds for border security because they want the money to come out of "unused" stimulus funds, funds that are in reality already committed to stimulus projects in the pipeline.

The GOP's blind ideological obsession with opposing any stimulus funds puts them in the untenable position of a filibuster of border security funds at the same time the GOP is posturing that the Obama administration is not doing enough to secure the border. Rank hypocrisy. Senators to weigh $600M for border:

The Senate will make another stab at increasing spending for border security before closing down for its monthlong summer recess at the end of this week.

Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., will try to push through a bill that provides an additional $600 million for the border. That includes $176 million to hire 1,500 more officers to form a strike force to be deployed in critical areas along the border, his office said Wednesday.

The House passed a measure with $701 million for border security before it left for its recess last week. The White House has sought the additional funding, and, with illegal immigration shaping up as a major issue in the fall election, both parties have pressed for action to restore some semblance of order to the country's southern border.

It's unclear whether Schumer's proposal will gain the Republican support needed to act on it before the Senate recesses. Republicans have proposed similar legislation but would pay for it by taking unused money from the Obama administration's economic stimulus program, an idea unacceptable to Democrats.

Schumer would pay for his measure by raising fees on visas for temporary, skilled workers sent to the United States by Indian companies. [H-1B visas]

Go ahead, Republicans. Filibuster border security aid after riling up Americans with your anti-immigrant fear mongering hysteria because you are ideologically opposed to any stimulus funds to get the economy moving again and to create jobs during the worst recession since the Great Depression.

Why does anyone take these fools seriously?

UPDATE: Another day, another Democratic victory: Senate OKs $600 million for border-security effort:

The Senate agreed Thursday to add $600 million to the effort to stop the flow of illegal immigrants across the U.S.-Mexican border.

The money would be used for such purposes as adding 1,500 new enforcement agents and deploying unmanned aerial drones to improve border surveillance.

The voice vote to pass the emergency spending came in the final hours before the Senate leaves for its monthlong summer break. Its sponsor, Democratic Sen. Charles Schumer of New York, said it would boost border spending 10 percent above 2010 levels.

* * *

The Democratic plan passed Thursday would boost fees assessed on foreign-based personnel companies that take advantage of U.S. visa programs, such as the H-1B visa program for temporary skilled workers, to bring foreign workers, mainly from India, into the United States.