T1B

Posted: **Fri Mar 17, 2006 7:19 pm**

The Republicans are hard at it, keeping America safe:

Moments ago, the House of Representatives narrowly defeated an amendment proposed by Rep. Martin Sabo (D-MN) that would have provided $1.25 billion in desperately needed funding for port security and disaster preparedness. The Sabo amendment included:

– $300 million to enable U.S. customs agents to inspect high-risk containers at all 140 overseas ports that ship directly to the United States. Current funding only allows U.S. customs agents to operate at 43 of these ports.

– $400 million to place radiation monitors at all U.S. ports of entry. Currently, less than half of U.S. ports have radiation monitors.

– $300 million to provide backup emergency communications equipment for the Gulf Coast.

Meanwhile, the Bush budget – which most of the members who voted against this bill will likely support – contains an increase of $1.7 billion for missile defense, a program that doesn’t even work.

http://thinkprogress.org/2006/03/16/por ... y-funding/

More:
http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/ny ... 31606.html

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"I'll tell you why I can't put up with you people. Because you're BASTARD PEOPLE." -Corky St. Clair:

Posted: **Fri Mar 17, 2006 7:34 pm**

Maybe the iraqis should pay for their own electrical grid and leave the US taxpayers out of it.

Posted: **Fri Mar 17, 2006 7:38 pm**

Maybe the Port Authorties should just pay for their own fucking security measures and leave the taxpayers out of it.

Yeah, that'll show us. Since when should the federal government be in the business of providing national security?

Posted: **Fri Mar 17, 2006 7:54 pm**

mvscal wrote: Weren't you hypocritical fuckheads whimpering about out of control spending on another thread here. That's what I thought.

yeeah, we need all the money we can afford in order to pay for more invasi......er.......spreading of democracy......

Posted: **Fri Mar 17, 2006 7:56 pm**

mvscal wrote:It's not "national security", you fucking douche.

Yet, that's what they are calling the iraq war. how's that work exactly?

You ship a container into this country, you pay a fee for security measures. It's that fucking simple and it doesn't shit to do with spending more tax dollars.

I agree with this, but beyond the container inspection just making sure our ports are safe and secure, period, and that is a national security issue.

Weren't you hypocritical fuckheads whimpering about out of control spending on another thread here. That's what I thought.

sin,

92 billion for wars and disasters

Posted: **Fri Mar 17, 2006 7:56 pm**

The S.O.S Act, H.R. 4899, mandates that all containers be scanned using the best-available technology, including scanning for radiation and density, before they are loaded onto a ship bound for the United States, and that all U.S.-bound containers be sealed with a transponder that would notify American officials of a breach before the shipment enters the Exclusive Economic Zone of the United States.

Sounds like a National Security issue to me.

They scan 100 percent in Hong Kong while we manage 1 percent. Have fun explaining that one to the voters during the next elections. Bring your "Republican Toadie Handbook."

Posted: **Fri Mar 17, 2006 7:58 pm**

Why should we pay for this when the businesses who run these facilities are perfectly capable of paying for it themselves?

Capable and willing are two different things. Why should they bother if they don't have to?

Posted: **Fri Mar 17, 2006 8:23 pm**

Of course they won't if they don't have to, but we can require that they do so.

Not with Bush in the Whitehouse and Republicans controlling congress. They flat out killed it. No amendments, no compromises, no results.

Our ports remain about as secure as our borders.

Meanwhile, another $92 billion goes to Iraq.

Posted: **Fri Mar 17, 2006 8:30 pm**

I'm glad that the 9/11 and the Oklahoma City bombing have taught us the importance of stopping ICBMs. We need that Star Wars funding upped again.

Posted: **Fri Mar 17, 2006 9:03 pm**

mvscal wrote: North Korea, Iran and Pakistan should teach you that importance.

how are those interceptor missile tests coming along?

I think it's been just about a year since the last failure, so I'm guessing Raytheon should have another dud on the launch pad in about 2 to 3 months....

Posted: **Fri Mar 17, 2006 9:09 pm**

My dad is one of the Senior Marine Engineers that control the Great Lakes Ports and he said Security needs to be amped up. I disagree the House of Reps defeating this bill. A little more emphasis needs to be made of securing what comes into this country.

Posted: **Fri Mar 17, 2006 9:12 pm**

mvscal wrote:Hopefully with greater success.

I've got $100 says it won't be.......interested?

T1B

We don't need no Stinkin' Port Security

We don't need no Stinkin' Port Security