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| House of Representatives approves overhaul of U.S. intelligence |
| 2004-12-08 |
| The House of Representatives voted Tuesday to approve the intelligence reorganization bill that had been held in committee for weeks. The bill is likely to reach the Senate on Wednesday. President Bush has said he will sign it. The legislation, drawn from recommendations made by a independent commission that reviewed intelligence failures that led up to the September 11, 2001, attacks, would overhaul the U.S. intelligence community. It would put most assets and budgets under the newly created post of national intelligence director. The bill stalled November 20 when House Armed Services Committee Chairman Duncan Hunter and House Judiciary Committee Chairman James Sensenbrenner persuaded House Speaker Dennis Hastert not to bring it to the House floor for a vote. Many Democrats and Republicans were angered because they said they had the votes to pass the bill -- without the two congressmen and their supporters. Hastert, R-Illinois, held back, and House-Senate conferees went to work to find language that would ease Hunter's concerns. A top House GOP leadership aide predicted Tuesday that 20 to 40 conservatives will vote against the bill. If the number tops 50, it will be "troubling," he said. Nevertheless, he said, GOP leaders will press ahead on the vote. "They're not going to turn back at this point," the aide said. Rep. Zach Wamp, R-Tennessee, said Hastert likely will win a "slim majority of the majority," referring to the speaker's stated goal of gaining the support of most Republicans. President Bush pushed for the bill in his radio address Saturday and in a letter to Congress on Monday, and Vice President Dick Cheney joined in the weekend talks. |
| Posted by:God Save The World |
| #10 Right with you, Frank-and lex. And if neither the Pubs or the Crats get it-watch that third party swell in 2008. Folks are sick of this immigration charade. We either live by rule of law or we don't. |
| Posted by: Jules 187 2004-12-08 3:24:03 PM |
| #9 This is beyond Dems vs Repubs. Our nation has a gaping window of vulnerability that's about 2,000 miles long, and no one in Washington is serious about closing that window. The buck stops with the man in the Oval Office. Long past time that he put forth an immigration policy focused on our needs and not those of his amigo Vicente Fox. |
| Posted by: lex 2004-12-08 3:17:28 PM |
| #8 2b - my point is that 75 is not "a few" - there are still legitimate concerns, yes, about immigration. Now, .com believes, and I hope, that W will address immigration reform in a meaningful way after the new year. I am looking for other than an amnesty discussion, the last of which caused a huge rush of illegals attempting to be incountry when the amnesty hits. Shut down the border, establish national ID card rules, and as long as my rep. Hunter is satisfied, then so am I |
| Posted by: Frank G 2004-12-08 3:08:25 PM |
| #7 This bill was a result of the 9/11 commission's recommendations. The major problem that I have with this bill, is that it does not cover drivers licenses. The 9/11 commission clearly played policical games with the final report. The last time I checked, the 9/11 hijackers had in possession, 63 different drivers licences. For this intelligence bill NOT to cover the drivers license issue, is just plain irresponsible (mild picante sauce). The majority of the politicians are STILL in the pre 9/11 mentality. After GW's term is up, I am NOT going to feel safe. |
| Posted by: Poison Reverse 2004-12-08 3:02:10 PM |
| #6 I don't understand why you all think this is such a bad idea. Duncan Hunter, who I respect, signed onto this once they fixed his concerns. Just because they didn't pass all of the immigration reforms we need doesn't mean that it's not a good bill. Personally, I think they rope-a-doped the Dems. The Dem leadership knew enough of their members would vote yes for it to pass and could not afford to appear to be opposed to it since it would confirm everyone's knowledge that they are weak on homeland security. I think the Dems made a strategic decision to make it look like they overwhelmingly supported this popular bill but the Republicans did not. Don't fall for it. |
| Posted by: 2b 2004-12-08 8:27:13 AM |
| #5 The Democrats were fools on this just like the TSA. They push an issue simply to hurt Bush without regard to its benefit to the nation. Bush succumbs to the "public outcry" and the nation is worse off. He won the election. I hope he tells them to STFU when they come up with their next screw Bush idea. |
| Posted by: Mrs. Davis 2004-12-08 8:19:50 AM |
| #4 Frank - I'm not sure what you mean. 336-75 is overwhelming support. |
| Posted by: 2b 2004-12-08 8:15:41 AM |
| #3 This is a mistake, the 9/11 commission was a joke and the President ought to know better. I can't figure out why he was so quick to jump on this. Another layer of bureaucracy won't solve anything and it doesn't even include any border securing measures which in my view is the most obvious problem. |
| Posted by: JerseyMike 2004-12-08 8:12:48 AM |
| #2 336-75 is not just a few |
| Posted by: Frank G 2004-12-08 8:07:57 AM |
| #1 With the exceptions of a few, they will sign it. It's political suicide not to. |
| Posted by: 2b 2004-12-08 8:04:53 AM |