The Battle for the Fence Is Not Over
Washington Times:
President Bush has signed off on a small down payment for a 700-mile fence along the U.S.-Mexico border, but legislators and fence advocates worry the barrier will never be fully funded and fear a lack of White House commitment.On top of all that, it is going to take until May 2008 for the fence to be built. How come the government only uses emenent domain when commerce is on the line?
Lawmakers -- including Rep. Duncan Hunter, California Republican and chairman of the House Armed Services Committee -- are forcefully reminding the Bush administration and Homeland Security officials that Congress' "directive" that the fence be built is not optional.
"We didn't put the fence as a goal or an option or something that should be mixed with other solutions, we made it mandatory," Mr. Hunter told The Washington
Times yesterday.
"It is not an option for the Department of Homeland Security. What part of 'shall' don't they understand?"
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