Senate Republicans Block President Obama's Request For Border Security Funds

Senate Republican's have voted not to include up to $700 million in border security emergency funds for states.

H.R. 4899 The Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2010 contained an amendment for $700 million dollars in border security funds.

According to Peter Nicholas of the LA Times, President Obama had requested $600 million in June:

To hire another 1,000 Border Patrol agents, acquire two drones and enhance security along the Southwest border.

The money would also pay for an additional 160 Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and extra Border Patrol canine teams, according to a senior White House official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly.

The full article can be read here.

The House passed bill added a $100 million in border security emergency funds, by the time the supplemental reached the floor of the Senate that number had dropped to $500 million.

Ultimately the money was stripped out completely when the Senate rejected the Motion to Concur the House Amendment to the Senate Amendment to H.R. 4899 Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2010.

Looking at the vote count which can be seen here, both Senators from Arizona,  John (complete the danged fence) McCain and Jon Kyl voted against this legislation.

In fairness a number of Democrats also voted against the legislation as well.

However it should also be noted that save for two Republican's who did not vote, all of the GOP in the Senate voted against the supplemental and Border Security.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid released a statement on the loss of funds:

“Congress needs to pass comprehensive immigration reform that secures our borders, cracks down on unscrupulous employers, and requires those here illegally to get right with the law, learn English, pay taxes, pass criminal background checks, and go to the back of the line.  But to accomplish this, we need bipartisan support, and Republicans refuse to work with us.  In the meantime, we need to do whatever we can to protect our national security and ensure our borders are secure, which is why Democrats tried to pass an important $500 million border security initiative that the President requested.

 "But Republican obstruction reared its ugly head again – they blocked this legislation to crack down on border-related crime and smuggling and chose empty rhetoric over action.  I urge my Republican colleagues to stop blocking common-sense measures and start working with Democrats in good faith to achieve comprehensive immigration reform.”