Holes In The Border Wall Story......
Jan 11, 2019 21:00:12 #
Living in New Mexico for the past several years, this i*****l i*********n thing is nothing new. The Mexican people have been coming through here, some stopping here and some moving on, for a long time. A lot of the immigrants came through NM and went on to Idaho, Utah, Nebraska, and places where farmers and ranchers needed CHEAP migrant labor. Upon seeing all this fuss over the border wall it got me thinking, where did all this come from..?? How long has it really been going on..?? Who wins...?? Who gets wealthy in all this "Border Wall Funding..??" As always, I like to follow the money...………...
Keep in mind here, I'm not pro-Trump or anti-Trump. I h**ed Obama from day one as I saw right through him as a snake oil salesman and con-man. Hillary, being entrenched in the political establishment, was not even a choice, for President or anything, but Prison.
Come to find out, this 'Border Wall' narrative has been going on since about 1993. At least, thats the most far back article I can find about the issue. Here are some excerpts.
PolitiFact National, "How Trump plans to build, and pay for, a wall along U.S.-Mexico border," July 26, 2016.
PolitiFact National, "Compare the candidates: Clinton vs. Trump on immigration," July 15, 2016.
PolitiFact National, "Obama says the border fence is 'now basically complete'," May 16, 2011.
PolitiFact National, "Trump says they were going to build a wall in '06, but environmental rules got in the way," Aug. 29, 2016
PolitiFact Wisconsin, "Is Donald Trump right that Hillary Clinton once ‘wanted a wall’ on the Mexican border?" Aug. 15, 2016
The Guardian, "Unfinished US-Mexico border wall is a costly logistical nightmare in Texas," Jan. 1, 2016
The Boston Globe, "In 2006, Democrats were saying ‘build that fence!’" Jan. 27, 2017
White House budget director Mick Mulvaney discusses the budget deadline with "Fox News Sunday" host Chris Wallace.
White House budget director Mick Mulvaney said he doesn’t understand Democratic opposition to funding the border wall because top Democrats v**ed for it just over 10 years ago.
During an April 23 segment on Fox News Sunday, Mulvaney talked down concerns about a government shutdown, but scolded Democrats for obstructing action on Trump’s border wall. Mulvaney pointed to the v****g record of top Democrats in 2006 to explain his confusion.
"We want our priorities funded and one of the biggest priorities during the campaign was border security, keeping Americans safe, and part of that was a border wall," he said.
"We still don’t understand why the Democrats are so wholeheartedly against it. They v**ed for it in 2006. Then-Sen. Obama v**ed for it. Sen. Schumer v**ed for it. Sen. Clinton v**ed for it. So we don’t understand why Democrats are now playing politics just because Donald Trump is in office."
Mulvaney is referencing their v**es on an act that authorized a fence, but as we’ve noted several times in the past, the 2006 fence was less ambitious than the wall Trump is proposing.
The Secure Fence Act of 2006
The Secure Fence Act of 2006, which was passed by a Republican Congress and signed by President George W. Bush, authorized about 700 miles of fencing along certain stretches of land between the border of the United States and Mexico.
The act also authorized the use of more vehicle barriers, checkpoints and lighting to curb i*****l i*********n, and the use of advanced technology such as satellites and unmanned aerial vehicles.
At the time the act was being considered, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and Chuck Schumer were all members of the Senate. (Schumer of New York is now the Senate minority leader.)
Obama, Clinton, Schumer and 23 other Democratic senators v**ed in favor of the act when it passed in the Senate by a v**e of 80 to 19.
Originally, the act called on the Department of Homeland Security to install at least two layers of reinforced fencing along some stretches of the border. That was amended later, however, through the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2008, which got rid of the double-layer requirement.
Currently, 702 miles of fencing separates the United States from Mexico, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
From: The White House Archives.gov (not all pages may be available or work)
On January 28, 2008, during his State of the Union address, President Bush reviewed the steps his Administration is taking to improve our border security and address immigration challenges. America's broken immigration system is a major problem that the American people expect their elected leaders to solve. Although Congress has not passed legislation to address the immigration challenges our Nation faces, the Administration continues to build upon progress we have already made in strengthening border security, enforcing our worksite laws, keeping our economy well-supplied with vital workers, and helping new Americans assimilate into our society. Yet the President will also urge that in order to take the pressure off the border, we need a new way for foreign workers to come here lawfully, on a temporary basis, and support our economy.
The Administration has increased funding for border security and immigration enforcement by 159 percent, including emergency funds, since the President took office - from $4.8 billion in 2001 to $12.3 billion in 2008.
The Administration has expanded the Border Patrol from approximately 9,000 agents in 2001 to more than 15,000 agents today. By the end of 2008, we will have more than 18,000 agents, doubling the size of the Border Patrol under the President's leadership.
A Blueprint For New Beginnings -- 9. Combat Crime and Drug ...
georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/usbudget/blueprint/bud09.html
The Administration is committed to full funding of the Western Hemisphere Drug Elimination Act. Through 2001, Congress has appropriated $1.6 billion ...
You can go to either WhiteHouseArchives.com or the NationalArchives.com and look this up yourself.
Most of the articles are from the Bush Jr. administration, 2001, 2004, 2005 and 2007. Strangely, there was one year that the "Border Fence" wasn't even mentioned, but it did point out how much was spent on New Border Patrol Agents (1500 New agents in 2005).
I found the major beginning of 'Border Security' began in the Bush Jr. administration, somewhere along May 2001. Although there are records that go back to George HW Bush in 1993, the funding was not near as massive. In 1993 - as far back as the research would take me, there was a small appropriation funding for a "Border Fence" ($19 Million) on record that was supposedly sent to California and Arizona. The "Fence" was riddled with cost overruns and corruption. It was supposed to be 27 miles of fence from Tiajuana / San Diego east. We got 19 miles. What the people got was basically - about 19 miles of "Fence" for $19 Million. So, thanks to good ole uncle sam's corrupt ways, we got about a $1 Million a mile fence. Now, any good rancher can - and does - build FENCE for about $750 to $1200 a mile. I know, I have 4 miles of ranchland fence myself. Of course, I did the labor. But the cost of materials at the time was about $280 per quarter mile, or about $1200 for a mile.
The articles also point out that in some areas there is no way to install a border fence, the terrain is too foreboding.
Strangely enough, immigration spiked during the last years of the Bush administration, and REALLY WENT up during the Obama years... How odd is that...???
Other articles also point out there are environmental problems or "Eminent Domain" issues. Especially along the Texas / Mexico border.
Sooooo, there is a HUGE hole in the "Border wall" narrative.
First, we already have about 700 miles of "Border Wall or Fence".
Second, there has ALREADY been about $3.8 to $4.2 BILLION spent on this debacle.
Ya, good old Uncle Sam and their high dollar projects.
Its my assertion that this lunatic problem goes away NOW...!!
Trump can get off his high horse and work with congress. Congress can come out of the lunatic asylum and work with Trump.
There are 800,000 Federal Workers NOT GETTING PAID...!!
These FAMILIES do not deserve to be in the crosshairs of some pet project or personal fued between the administration and congress.
Call your congressmen / women and tell them to end it now....!!
We the People have ALREADY been taken to the cleaners on this "Border Wall Funding" issue.
As with all other government insanity, its time for this to stop, NOW...!!!
Keep in mind here, I'm not pro-Trump or anti-Trump. I h**ed Obama from day one as I saw right through him as a snake oil salesman and con-man. Hillary, being entrenched in the political establishment, was not even a choice, for President or anything, but Prison.
Come to find out, this 'Border Wall' narrative has been going on since about 1993. At least, thats the most far back article I can find about the issue. Here are some excerpts.
PolitiFact National, "How Trump plans to build, and pay for, a wall along U.S.-Mexico border," July 26, 2016.
PolitiFact National, "Compare the candidates: Clinton vs. Trump on immigration," July 15, 2016.
PolitiFact National, "Obama says the border fence is 'now basically complete'," May 16, 2011.
PolitiFact National, "Trump says they were going to build a wall in '06, but environmental rules got in the way," Aug. 29, 2016
PolitiFact Wisconsin, "Is Donald Trump right that Hillary Clinton once ‘wanted a wall’ on the Mexican border?" Aug. 15, 2016
The Guardian, "Unfinished US-Mexico border wall is a costly logistical nightmare in Texas," Jan. 1, 2016
The Boston Globe, "In 2006, Democrats were saying ‘build that fence!’" Jan. 27, 2017
White House budget director Mick Mulvaney discusses the budget deadline with "Fox News Sunday" host Chris Wallace.
White House budget director Mick Mulvaney said he doesn’t understand Democratic opposition to funding the border wall because top Democrats v**ed for it just over 10 years ago.
During an April 23 segment on Fox News Sunday, Mulvaney talked down concerns about a government shutdown, but scolded Democrats for obstructing action on Trump’s border wall. Mulvaney pointed to the v****g record of top Democrats in 2006 to explain his confusion.
"We want our priorities funded and one of the biggest priorities during the campaign was border security, keeping Americans safe, and part of that was a border wall," he said.
"We still don’t understand why the Democrats are so wholeheartedly against it. They v**ed for it in 2006. Then-Sen. Obama v**ed for it. Sen. Schumer v**ed for it. Sen. Clinton v**ed for it. So we don’t understand why Democrats are now playing politics just because Donald Trump is in office."
Mulvaney is referencing their v**es on an act that authorized a fence, but as we’ve noted several times in the past, the 2006 fence was less ambitious than the wall Trump is proposing.
The Secure Fence Act of 2006
The Secure Fence Act of 2006, which was passed by a Republican Congress and signed by President George W. Bush, authorized about 700 miles of fencing along certain stretches of land between the border of the United States and Mexico.
The act also authorized the use of more vehicle barriers, checkpoints and lighting to curb i*****l i*********n, and the use of advanced technology such as satellites and unmanned aerial vehicles.
At the time the act was being considered, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and Chuck Schumer were all members of the Senate. (Schumer of New York is now the Senate minority leader.)
Obama, Clinton, Schumer and 23 other Democratic senators v**ed in favor of the act when it passed in the Senate by a v**e of 80 to 19.
Originally, the act called on the Department of Homeland Security to install at least two layers of reinforced fencing along some stretches of the border. That was amended later, however, through the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2008, which got rid of the double-layer requirement.
Currently, 702 miles of fencing separates the United States from Mexico, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
From: The White House Archives.gov (not all pages may be available or work)
On January 28, 2008, during his State of the Union address, President Bush reviewed the steps his Administration is taking to improve our border security and address immigration challenges. America's broken immigration system is a major problem that the American people expect their elected leaders to solve. Although Congress has not passed legislation to address the immigration challenges our Nation faces, the Administration continues to build upon progress we have already made in strengthening border security, enforcing our worksite laws, keeping our economy well-supplied with vital workers, and helping new Americans assimilate into our society. Yet the President will also urge that in order to take the pressure off the border, we need a new way for foreign workers to come here lawfully, on a temporary basis, and support our economy.
The Administration has increased funding for border security and immigration enforcement by 159 percent, including emergency funds, since the President took office - from $4.8 billion in 2001 to $12.3 billion in 2008.
The Administration has expanded the Border Patrol from approximately 9,000 agents in 2001 to more than 15,000 agents today. By the end of 2008, we will have more than 18,000 agents, doubling the size of the Border Patrol under the President's leadership.
A Blueprint For New Beginnings -- 9. Combat Crime and Drug ...
georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/usbudget/blueprint/bud09.html
The Administration is committed to full funding of the Western Hemisphere Drug Elimination Act. Through 2001, Congress has appropriated $1.6 billion ...
You can go to either WhiteHouseArchives.com or the NationalArchives.com and look this up yourself.
Most of the articles are from the Bush Jr. administration, 2001, 2004, 2005 and 2007. Strangely, there was one year that the "Border Fence" wasn't even mentioned, but it did point out how much was spent on New Border Patrol Agents (1500 New agents in 2005).
I found the major beginning of 'Border Security' began in the Bush Jr. administration, somewhere along May 2001. Although there are records that go back to George HW Bush in 1993, the funding was not near as massive. In 1993 - as far back as the research would take me, there was a small appropriation funding for a "Border Fence" ($19 Million) on record that was supposedly sent to California and Arizona. The "Fence" was riddled with cost overruns and corruption. It was supposed to be 27 miles of fence from Tiajuana / San Diego east. We got 19 miles. What the people got was basically - about 19 miles of "Fence" for $19 Million. So, thanks to good ole uncle sam's corrupt ways, we got about a $1 Million a mile fence. Now, any good rancher can - and does - build FENCE for about $750 to $1200 a mile. I know, I have 4 miles of ranchland fence myself. Of course, I did the labor. But the cost of materials at the time was about $280 per quarter mile, or about $1200 for a mile.
The articles also point out that in some areas there is no way to install a border fence, the terrain is too foreboding.
Strangely enough, immigration spiked during the last years of the Bush administration, and REALLY WENT up during the Obama years... How odd is that...???
Other articles also point out there are environmental problems or "Eminent Domain" issues. Especially along the Texas / Mexico border.
Sooooo, there is a HUGE hole in the "Border wall" narrative.
First, we already have about 700 miles of "Border Wall or Fence".
Second, there has ALREADY been about $3.8 to $4.2 BILLION spent on this debacle.
Ya, good old Uncle Sam and their high dollar projects.
Its my assertion that this lunatic problem goes away NOW...!!
Trump can get off his high horse and work with congress. Congress can come out of the lunatic asylum and work with Trump.
There are 800,000 Federal Workers NOT GETTING PAID...!!
These FAMILIES do not deserve to be in the crosshairs of some pet project or personal fued between the administration and congress.
Call your congressmen / women and tell them to end it now....!!
We the People have ALREADY been taken to the cleaners on this "Border Wall Funding" issue.
As with all other government insanity, its time for this to stop, NOW...!!!
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