Short Writing Assignment #2

1. Source: The New York Times Date: September 8, 2006
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/08/washington/08defense.html

On September 7, 2006, the Senate passed a bill that will provide an additional $63 billion to the military forces involved in the War on Terror. This bill was passed unanimously with 98 of 98 in approval. With this additional $63 billion, the amount the bill provides now totals $469.7 billion, bringing the amount given to the War on Terror by Congress to over $500 billion since 2001. The funds allotted in this bill mainly go towards operations and military maintenance. However, it also covers the cost of new weapons, research, and development. In addition, $99 billion of this money goes to pay personnel. There are only three more budgeting bills waiting to be passed by Congress by the start of the new budget year (October 1). These include bills will allot money to enact the homeland security plan, provide money for veterans' programs, and review the budget of the Pentagon.

2. Source: Fox News Date: September 12, 2006
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,213540,00.html

Tuesday, Republican members of the House agreed that Congress should go to extensive measures to control illegal immigrants. They did not pay any attention to the issue concerning the undocumented workers already present in the United States. A border-security forum made up of only Republicans confirmed the rejection of the House to the Senate’s approval of the combination of enhanced border security, an addition of a guest worker program, and a way for illegal immigrants to successfully become legal.
At a meeting of committee chairmen and Republican leaders, Dennis Hastert, Speaker of the House, proclaimed that Americans desire “immediate, targeted legislation specifically designed to secure the border, protect our homeland and vigorously enforce our immigration laws.” This forum was created to convey the outcome of about 22 meetings held in 13 states all over the country to support border security.
Adam Putnam, a Republican Representative from Florida, is the chairman of the Republican Policy Committee. He has been chosen to create legislation over the next few weeks. It is still questionable whether or not the final legislation will be a “stand-alone bill,” receiving hostility from the Senate. However, House Majority Leader, John Boehner, promised that they “will send President Bush a series of border initiatives this year,” addressing the areas of stricter immigration enforcement, more border patrol agents, and increased fencing along the border. There were also several other suggestions by other Representatives, some of which might be included in the future legislation. Putnam told the forum, “While there must be a comprehensive approach to immigration, securing our borders is the first, and most pressing, problem demanding our attention and action.”

3. Source: Los Angeles Times Date: September 14, 2006
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/politics/wire/sns-ap-bush-congress,1,959452.story?coll=sns-ap-politics-headlines&ctrack=1&cset=true

The morning of Thursday, September 14, 2006, President George W. Bush, along with Vice President Dick Cheney and White House adviser Karl Rove, went to Capitol Hill to meet with Republican members of the House of Representatives. The President was trying to gain the support of GOP House members to pass legislation allowing more tenacious questioning, spying, and imprisonment for terrorism suspects.
However, the former Secretary of State for the Bush administration and former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Colin Powell, supported three Republicans in opposition to Bush’s plan. These three rebellious lawmakers include Sen. John Warner, Sen. John McCain, and Sen. Lindsey Graham. Colin Powell stated, “The world is beginning to doubt the moral basis of our fight against terrorism. To redefine Common Article Three (of the Geneva Convention) would add to those doubts.” Sen. Warner believes that Bush’s plan would “lower the standard for the treatment of prisoners, potentially putting U.S. troops at risk should other countries retaliate.” Warner, who is also the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, urged his small panel to complete their alternate plan.
The White House issued a press release on Thursday to announce that the Warner’s alternate plan was unsatisfactory because, if approved, it would cause the CIA to have to put an end to using aggressive questioning tactics with suspected terrorists. This statement was supported and upheld by National Intelligence Director John Negroponte.
As he was leaving Capitol Hill, the President said he would “continue to work with members of the Congress to get good legislation.” He also told reporters that he “reminded them that the most important job of government is to protect the homeland.”