9/11 bill may face scrutiny in Senate (Republican Opposition)

[ck4829]

An anti-terrorism measure that easily passed the House faces tougher scrutiny from senators skeptical of its call for tougher screening for cargo aboard ships, a new way to divide federal security aid among states and other provisions.

Raising further questions about the bill's future, the Bush administration said it opposed the measure's collective bargaining rights for airport screeners, inspections of cargo on passenger airliners and the cargo-scanning requirement for ships bound for U.S. ports. A White House statement, however, did not threaten a veto.

An obviously delighted House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (news, bio, voting record), D-Calif., announced the vote by which the bill passed on Tuesday by a bipartisan roll call of 299-128. It was the first of six measures the House is expected to pass in its first 100 hours in session under Democratic control.

Republicans warned that the bill would be too costly and require technology that doesn't yet exist. They also assailed Democrats for posing as being tough on terrorism.

"Homeland security is too important to play politics when American lives are at stake," said Minority Whip Roy Blunt (news, bio, voting record), R-Mo.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070110/ap_on_go_co/congress_terror

That's funny, costs of things, a lack of technology, and looking tough on terrorism didn't stop the Republicans when they were in the majority.

[DoYouEverWonder]

1. Maybe if we weren't blowing a billion+ a week in Iraq

we could afford real security measures.

Too bad BushCo has bankrupted the US economy and we can't even afford to protect ourselves anymore.

[magellan]

2. Lack of technology?

I'm sorry to link to FAUX, but this is where I found the story:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,217338,00.html?sPage=fnc.specialsections/homelandsecurity

October 03, 2006
NEWARK, N.J. — More than 200 times each day, authorities detect radiation in containers arriving off cargo ships at Port Newark. It's in ceramic tiles, granite, pottery, kitty litter — all natural products made from Earth's elements.

This month, the port is getting a new generation of radiation detectors that will more quickly distinguish those natural products from dangerous nuclear materials that could be used by terrorists.

snip...

The new detectors, Advanced Spectroscopic Portals, would identify the cargo as trucks haul the containers out of the seaport, without the need for officers to walk around the truck, pressing hand-held units against its side and waiting for sensors to determine what's inside.

And these are the detectors being discussed: U.S. Department of Homeland Security Selects Thermo for Rapid and Accurate Detection of Radiological Threats

Expensive, no doubt. But this is progress with current technology. So what's the Republicons' problem?

[OregonBlue]

3. Copy the article and send to Blunt and Republics who are complaining!!

[magellan]

4. I doubt that would make any difference

But if I sent it to the Dems....Should I send it to Reid or is there another Dem who's assigned to lead this topic in the Senate?