- 1
- 2
Parry and Thrust
Other opponents are hoping to drum up opposition in Congress. The Sierra Club and the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), an opponent of the border fence, will jointly send a letter to House and Senate members Friday denouncing Chertoff's move. "We think [Congress] can … make sure the secretary makes a good-faith effort to abide by the laws," says Brent A. Wilkes, LULAC's national executive director. "They are the ones who gave him the authority, and they can take it away whenever they want." Other groups plan to fan public anger as a way of convincing legislators to take notice. "There's a groundswell already happening," says Mike Daulton, director of conservation policy at the National Audubon Society. "We are hoping that this is such an extreme decision that there will be a public outcry against an agency that thinks it's above the law."
The decision has also angered some local groups opposed to the wall. In Texas, Steve Ahlenius, president and CEO of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce, complained that Chertoff's moves will allow 22 miles of wall-and-berm construction that "is going to destroy habitat and lose it forever." Jim Peugh, a local Audubon volunteer in San Diego, complained, "If they have to design a fence, you'd think they'd be committed to designing it right."
Some on Capitol Hill want to repeal the law that enabled Chertoff's broad decision. Arizona Rep. hopes to gain more congressional support for a bill he introduced last year that would, among other provisions, cut language that grants the homeland secretary the broad power. The Borderlands Conservation and Security Act would also force consultation with local land managers before construction could begin. In an interview Grijalva, chair of the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands of the House Resources Committee, says he will expand the focus of his first hearing on the bill, later this month in Texas, to include Chertoff's decision.
Still, opponents aren't bragging about their chances. Environmental groups failed in legal bids to stop two previous waivers that Chertoff granted, in Texas and Arizona. Environmentalists and opponents of the wall seem keenly aware that the politics of immigration and border security, especially after 9/11, trump environmental protection. Fewer than 25 members have stepped in to cosponsor Grijalva's bill since last summer. And the congressman knows that an election year may not be the best time to rally opposition to Chertoff—particularly in districts where illegal immigration is unpopular. "Honestly, I don't know if my colleagues have the political guts to challenge [the administration] on this issue," he says, criticizing fellow Democrats as well as Republicans. The question may hang fire until next year, when a new homeland security secretary takes over. By then many miles of the fence may be built. And it looks as though the next president will be one of three senators who voted to approve the border fence.
© 2008
- 1
- 2
Loading Menu
Member Comments
Posted By: jimbo3800 @ 04/12/2008 9:00:05 AM
Comment: Shelton - your anti-Americanism flows from your words in a very obvious fashion, your words drip with your disdain for your own country and your own people. It's sickening.
If everything is so awful here, why do you stay? And more importantly, if it is so awful here, why are so many others trying to get here?
Posted By: eddiewhere @ 04/12/2008 5:06:44 AM
Comment: WE NEED TO MONITOR THE CyBER WAR CHINA HAS ALREADy LAUNCHED AGAINST THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. THIS project IS AT THE Top of CHINA"S MILITARy offense against US.
THIS IS A FACT. THE AMERICAN pEOpLE NEED TO KNOW THE TRUTH. REMEMBER CLINTON SOLD THE LINCOLN BEDROOM TO THE CHINESE.
IN THE LONG RUN WE ALSO NEED TO MONITOR A pOSSIBLE MILITARy ALLIANCE BETWEEN RUSSIA AND CHINA. NOW, if McCAIN SETs A ONE HUNDRED yEAR AGENA FOR pREVENTING AN ALLIANCE BETWEEN RUSSIA AND CHINA, WELL THAT MAKES SENSE.
THE ONLy REASON THE REBpULBICANS SUppORT STAyING IN IRAQ IS DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE REBpULBICAN POWER BASE and it's backers are making BILLIONS IN IRAQ. WHILE OUR TREASURy IS BEING DRAINED EVERy DAy at the tax Payers exPense.
MORE THAN HUNDRED THOUSHAND DOLLARS A DAy. THIS IS A MODEST ESTIMASTE.
WHY CAN'T WE SEE THAT THE PeoPle Profiting from the war are haPPy with the status quo. WHo are these PeoPle,
Private Contrators who lobbied the RePublican adminstration
Cheney/ Halliburton who Provided billion dollar contracts to selected firms.
These caPitalists decided to unite and Profit in Iraq, Build a new economy in Iraq where the oil comPainies, caPitalists that suPPort the Bush Administration, War Profiteers and other Private comPanies could all make Billions at the tax Payers exPense. HERE"S THE proof, keep in mind this is just the tip ot the ice berg
Cheney's stock options which were worth $241,498 a year ago, are now valued at more than $8 million-- for an increase of 3,281% . Cheney has pledged to give the proceeds to charity. Cheney continues to receive a deferred salary from the Halliburton. He was paid $205,298 in 2001; $162,392 in 2002; $178,437 in 2003; and $194,852 in 2004.
Halliburton, has already raked in more than $10 billion for work in Iraq, and was handed some of the first Katrina contracts. The company has been criticized by auditors for its handling of no-bid contacts in Iraq, and there have been numerous allegations of over charging for services. Auditors found the firm marked up meal prices for troops and inflated gas prices in a deal with a Kuwaiti supplier. The company also built the American prison at Guantanamo Bay. "It is unseemly for the Vice President to continue to benefit from this company at the same time his Administration funnels billions of dollars to it. Lautenberg???
They even "pimped" our troops. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH
Do you think Bush and Cheney care that we are spending billions in IRAQ, NO. THis is why they hated the CLINTONS. THE CLINTON"S ACTUALLY USED TAX payer money to help the middle class and all AMERICANS.
LET US REMEMBER THE VICTIMS OF THE TINANMEN SQUARE MASSACRE, WHERE HUNDREDS WERE FLATTENED LIKE PANCAKES ON DIRECT ORDERS FROM THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT. LET US REMEMBER THE ONE MILLION CHINESE CITIZENS ROTTING IN JAIL FOR NO REASON.
Posted By: mcrewser @ 04/11/2008 4:31:39 PM
Comment: Veterano- That's the best you could come up with? You might as well said "Whatever". It's obvious that you could not refute anything i stated.
Sgoldbarg- Hope that the syntax was correct!