Bill to allow Homeland Security to nullify ANY LAW may pass

[Sliverofhope]

From dailykos:

ALERT: GOP Bill to Suspend Laws IS MOVING!

by valabor

Mon Feb 7th, 2005 at 22:07:35 PST

The House GOP Leadership is apparently moving to pass H.R. 418, "The REAL ID Act of 2005," in the House THIS WEEK.  This is the bill that would give Homeland Security the power to suspend all laws!

The Rules Committee is moving fast.  From their website:


Dear Colleague:

The Rules Committee has announced that it may meet the week of February 7, 2005 to grant a rule which could limit the amendment process for floor consideration of H.R. 418, the REAL ID Act of 2005.

Any Member who wishes to offer an amendment should submit 55 copies of the amendment and one copy of a brief explanation of the amendment to the Rules Committee in room H-312 of the Capitol by 12 noon on Tuesday, February 8, 2005. A copy of the form used to submit amendments to the Rules Committee is on the back of this letter. Members should draft their amendments to the bill as introduced on January 26, 2005.

Diaries :: valabor's diary ::

H.R. 418 is the bill that contains the infamous "Section 102" -- which would give the Secretary of Homeland Security the authority to waive, at his absolute discretion, any and all laws he deems necessary to waive in order to expedite construction of barriers and roads in the vicinity of the U.S. border.  He decides what is necessary to waive!  He decides the scope of his own authority, really, because his decision is NOT REVIEWABLE BY ANY COURT!

Think:  Goodbye, environmental laws.  Goodbye, labor laws.  Goodbye, whisteblower protections.  Goodbye, democracy.

Apparently, any amendment to strip this language or modify this language must be filed with the Rules Committee by noon on Tuesday, 2/8.  Then the Rules Committee decides whether to allow a vote by the House on the amendment.  But based on the Rules Committee website notice, it sounds like they don't want to allow any amendments:  "...to grant a rule which could limit the amendment process..."

Guess who chairs the Rules Committee:  Rep. David Drier (R-CA) -- the Congressman who proposed this language to usurp the rule of law in the first place!  He proposed this language for the 9/11 bill last year, but it was ultimately stripped from the final bill.  

Read more about this issue here. (http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/2/5/15448/41910)

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This is very important.

[liberal N proud]

1. Wouldn't that make Sec of Fatherland security the most powerful

figure in the world? Even more powerful than sheik george?

Secretary of Homeland Security the authority to waive, at his absolute discretion, any and all laws he deems necessary

[Zinfandel]

7. No, his "absolute discretion" would be dictated by the little dictator

whenever he chooses and for whatever reasons he chooses.

[atreides1]

2. This Is More Proof

That the Republicans are nothing more then the 21st Century Nazi Party. They want power and are willing to do anything to keep it.

[Goldeneye]

3. How many votes does it need?

Tell me its not just a majority.

[wildflower]

12. I'm not sure...good question. n/t

[toymachines]

4. this sounds very improtant

we do not need less accountability and less checks and balances. we really dont need our borders to become lawless military zones..anymore than they have at least.

[kcass1954]

5. Get ready kids - marshall law is on the way!

I've already written to my congressman on this. But he's Clay Shaw, one of the sponsors of this garbage.

Here's the link - read it for yourself.

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/C?c109:./temp/~c109cZyNbm

There isn't a single person in the entire world that should have that kind of power - NO ONE!!!

[goodboy]

6. KICK

:kick:

[Delphinus]

8. Jeez - no freaking way!

We are so screwed if this passes. We've got to make a big deal of this and get it into the public eye!

[wildflower]

9. kick n/t

[Disturbed]

10. Amerikan Fascist Police State is almost...

completed.

[G_j]

11. Katherine Harris

feel safer now?
-----

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1216942

Plum assignment awaits Harris She's a candidate for a coveted seat on the Homeland Security panel.

By JEREMY WALLACE

A high-ranking member of Congress says U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris will be given one of the most sought-after committee assignments on Capitol Hill.

U.S. Rep. Tom Reynolds, R-N.Y., told a Sarasota crowd at a Republican fund-raiser on Friday night that Harris would get a coveted seat on the Homeland Security Committee. It is a post that Harris, R-Longboat Key, has quietly lobbied to get for months.

The new committee will have primary jurisdiction over the Department of Homeland Security and anti-terrorism policy decisions.

Reynolds is chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, considered one of the top leadership posts in the Republican-controlled Congress.
..more..