President Obama signs bill for border security, 600M

[Bateluer]

http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/08/13/obama.border.funding/index.html?hpt=T1

Washington (CNN) -- President Obama will sign a bill Friday that provides $600 million in emergency funding to help secure the U.S.-Mexico border.

A day earlier, two senators -- Democrats Charles Schumer of New York and Ben Cardin of Maryland -- returned from their August recess to give the chamber's approval for the bill.

The House of Representatives had already approved the measure.

In the Senate, the bill passed by unanimous consent -- a parliamentary term for a voice vote that doesn't require the return of the entire Senate chamber. GOP leaders had agreed to the maneuver.

Among other things, the bill provides for roughly 1,500 new law enforcement agents, new unmanned aerial vehicles, new forwarding operating bases and $14 million in new communications equipment.

The measure has attracted strong Democratic and Republican support.

Obama praised the plan after the Senate passed it, saying that congressional passage "answers my call to bolster the essential work of federal law enforcement officials and improve their ability to partner with state, local and tribal law enforcement."

Obama argued that the new law would facilitate cooperation along the border between the U.S. and Mexican governments, and asserted that it would make "an important difference" in the push for comprehensive immigration reform.

The bill is funded in part by imposing higher fees on personnel companies that bring foreign workers into the United States.

I have not read into the details of this bill yet, however, its good to see something actually being done to address the problem. Whether or not this law will be effective, I cannot say right now. The bolded line is a point of curiosity to me. Not every company brings foreign workers in illegally, I'd say most likely do it in a lawful manner. Do these fees apply only to personnel companies that bring in foreign works, ie, if they were to shift to domestic workers, could they avoid the fees? Course, then they are hiring US citizens(hopefully) and keeping jobs and money within the US with all the benefits that come with that.

 

[Kadarin]

Call my cynical, but I'm guessing this is mostly border security theater.

 

[RaistlinZ]

^^ I agree. It was a safe and easy bill to pass as both sides dared not to vote against it with elections coming up.

 

[DucatiMonster696]

Yet it doesn't really address the issue of those who are here illegally. It is a band aid bill so that Obama can say "Look I did something." when in fact he and the Feds are not doing much and are in fact hampering states which are tackling the issue on a local level.

Edit: And the last portion highlighted by the OP no doubt is a joke. I highly doubt this was allowed to pass through without major giant loopholes for companies who hire illegals or foreign workers to avoid this fee.

 

[MotF Bane]

It's still just bullshit anyways.

 

[ayabe]

What do you all want? You want to pay for SWAT teams to go door to door and ask people for their papers? It's not going to happen so get over it.

 

[classy]

Call my cynical, but I'm guessing this is mostly border security theater.

Yet it doesn't really address the issue of those who are here illegally. It is a band aid bill so that Obama can say "Look I did something." when in fact he and the Feds are not doing much and are in fact hampering states which are tackling the issue on a local level.

Edit: And the last portion highlighted by the OP no doubt is a joke. I highly doubt this was allowed to pass through without major giant loopholes for companies who hire illegals or foreign workers to avoid this fee.

Obama is putting up Aces in this department. This year they have deported well over 100,000 illegals, have audited over 2000 businesses, levied 3 million dollars in fines. And he has said those same measures are going to be expanded to include more states and counties. This bill does a lot of good stuff.

the bill provides for roughly 1,500 new law enforcement agents, new unmanned aerial vehicles, new forwarding operating bases and $14 million in new communications equipment.

Increases more physical security and not by stretching thin the national guard. The use of unmanned areial is excellent because they can cover a lot more ground. And they doing it without shameful incidents of killing people. No question Obama is dealing with illegal immigration in the correct way.

 

[MotF Bane]

No question Obama is dealing with illegal immigration in the correct way.

 

[MotF Bane]

What do you all want? You want to pay for SWAT teams to go door to door and ask people for their papers? It's not going to happen so get over it.

You know what I want? Call the military home from Iraq and Afghanistan, and use them to secure the border. That's one of their duties - not being used to invade foreign countries. It's very simple.

 

[IronWing]

This bill will solve the problem by nailing the employers who most benefit from illegal hiring and make them pay the societal costs of their actions. Right? Right?

 

[classy]

You know what I want? Call the military home from Iraq and Afghanistan, and use them to secure the border. That's one of their duties - not being used to invade foreign countries. It's very simple.

LOL

Your suggestion is so comical its hard to type without laughing. Yea I know we are to use the military against both foreign and domestic enemies, but in this situation that doesn't apply. If I use your analogy then I should be locking up owners of businesses that hire illegals on charges of treason. Your suggestion is stupid, dumb, and way over the top knee jerk reaction.

 

[MotF Bane]

This bill will solve the problem by nailing the employers who most benefit from illegal hiring and make them pay the societal costs of their actions. Right? Right?

Haha, of course not.

 

[MotF Bane]

LOL

Your suggestion is so comical its hard to type without laughing. Yea I know we are to use the military against both foreign and domestic enemies, but in this situation that doesn't apply. If I use your analogy then I should be locking up owners of businesses that hire illegals on charges of treason. Your suggestion is stupid, dumb, and way over the top knee jerk reaction.

I wouldn't expect you to understand it, classy. Isn't there another thread about gay marriage you can go reveal your bigotry in?

 

[Modelworks]

Only $600 million ? They will never hire 1500 new enforcement and probably $500 million of that will be spent on forming some new agency to oversee the funds.

 

[MotF Bane]

Only $600 million ? They will never hire 1500 new guards and probably $500 million of that will be spent on forming some new agency to oversee the funds.

Agency of Border Security Operations Funding. :awe:

 

[classy]

I wouldn't expect you to understand it, classy. Isn't there another thread about gay marriage you can go reveal your bigotry in?

Well with idiots like you suggesting using the full military, clearly I am needed here.

 

[Exterous]

Agency of Border Security Operations Funding. :awe:

Operational Budget Agencey for Material Allocation?

O.B.A.M.A.

 

[Exterous]

It seems like a good step. Unfortunately my skepticism and cynical views towards the ability of our leaders to actually solve problems leads me to believe this will not really help the issue

 

[MotF Bane]

It seems like a good step. Unfortunately my skepticism and cynical views towards the ability of our leaders to actually solve problems leads me to believe this will not really help the issue

Of course it won't really help.

 

[waggy]

meh. its a good start. but i suspect people are right and this is just something so he can say he did something.

i won't be surprised when the details come out that this is useless. but hell more money can't hurt.

 

[Hacp]

600 million? They give 26 billion to fund outrageous teacher salaries and pensions incurred by the states, but they give only 600 million to fight the illegal immigrant invasion crossing our borders? Weak.

 

[Jaskalas]

No sum of money is enough until the border is secure.

I'm going to go out on a limb here, albeit a small one, and say this won't do the job.

 

[rudder]

Call my cynical, but I'm guessing this is mostly border security theater.

Why because $550 million will be spent before even one desired new piece of equipment is sent out for bids?

 

[StageLeft]

Not enough money.

 

[hal2kilo]

What do you all want? You want to pay for SWAT teams to go door to door and ask people for their papers? It's not going to happen so get over it.

The mob apparently says yes.