Sensenbrenner calls Democrats Dangerously Irresponsible [View All]

Dangerously Irresponsible

This week, House Democrat leaders continued to contradict their “full and fair debate” pledge by bringing bills to the floor of the House of Representatives that circumvented regular order -- that is, without the benefit of input from the committees and subcommittees of jurisdiction. One such piece of legislation that came up for a vote under this martial law is HR 1, Implementing the 9/11Commission Recommendations Act.

I voted against HR 1 because I have serious concerns with some of the provisions in it. For example, it is impractical, and unduly expensive, to screen every overseas container bound for US ports prior to loading at these overseas ports. There are more than 700 ports worldwide that ship to the US, and the costs associated with scanning each and every container would ultimately be passed on to the commercial carriers, which in turn would be passed on to consumers -- you! Moreover, without the express permission of the host government, the US has very limited ability to force a foreign port to provide 100% scanning that would meet our security standards. As part of the SAFE Port Act, enacted last fall, the Administration is already pursuing a cooperative international approach to container scanning. Under the DHS’ Container Security Initiative, Customs and Border Protection Officers are working in 50 overseas ports to inspect high risk containers before they are loaded on to vessels headed to the US.

This legislation could also require the US to gain United Nations approval to administer important programs such as the Global Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI). PSI is a highly successful program launched in 2003 by the Bush administration that uses diplomatic tools, such as sanctions, to discourage international trafficking of weapons of mass destruction (WMD). Roughly 70 nations cooperate with the US in the PSI, and one of the major successes of this program is Libya. It was because of PSI that the US discovered shipments of nuclear technology to Libya, and it was PSI that discovered the dangerous dealings of A.Q. Khan, Pakistan’s nuclear scientist, who was helping make WMD more accessible. Requiring the US to seek permission or approval from the UN prior to administering this program would severely hamper the Administration’s ability to protect our nation.

Democrats should not be playing politics with the issue of national security. The stakes are just too high. This is a matter that has been of the greatest significance to the Administration and to House Republicans. We already enacted all but the most ill-advised provisions of the 9/11 Commission. By politicizing the issue, Democrat leaders made promises to the American public that they soon realized they could not meet. On one hand, I am thankful that they reached the same conclusions as Republicans did; but, on the other hand, I am disappointed that this did not stop them from pressing forward with a rash bill. Bringing bills to the floor by bypassing regular order isn’t just an irresponsible way to lead Congress, in the case of HR 1, it is dangerously irresponsible.

http://www.house.gov/sensenbrenner/wc20070112.html

Remember how he welcomed input from Democrats when he was chair of the House Judiciary Committee?

He also supports the escalation proposed by Bush in Iraq.

He did absolutely NOTHING to investigate the most DANGEROUSLY IRRESPONSIBLE President this country has ever had.

I still can't believe this pompous ass was re-elected to office. :mad: