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| Originally Aired: September 29, 2006 |
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Congress Moves on Final Legislation Before Adjourning |
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| The NewsHour's Congressional Correspondent Kwame Holman provides a report on what Congress will accomplish before they adjourn to campaign, as well as what issues may be put on hold. |
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A last day without a schedule
KWAME HOLMAN: In fact, there was no debate for the remainder
of the morning. Senators were free to speak on any issue they chose, while
leaders tried to reach agreement on the legislative schedule ahead.
SEN. BILL FRIST (R-TN), Senate Majority Leader: What we're
doing, just for the information of our colleagues, is to lay out just morning
business -- and we might even be able to extend morning business -- until the
Democratic leader and I plan out the remainder of the day.
KWAME HOLMAN: Members of both houses of Congress had hoped
to complete work and head home within 24 hours, most to campaign for
re-election and not have to return to the Capitol until after Election Day
November 7th. But by 1:00, the Senate still had no schedule for its legislative
day, and senators were free to keep talking.
SEN. LARRY CRAIG (R), Idaho:
For the sake of the senator and our timing, let me ask unanimous consent that
the period of morning business be extended until 2:00 or 3:30.
KWAME HOLMAN: Pennsylvania
Republican Rick Santorum used his free time to preview a debate he hoped would
begin later in the day: legislation to build 700 miles of reinforced fencing
along populated areas of the U.S.-Mexico border. A virtual fence using
surveillance cameras, ground sensors, and unmanned aerial vehicles would secure
other areas of the border.
SEN. RICK SANTORUM (R), Pennsylvania: If you have a problem of 11
million people and growing of people in this country who will here illegally,
the first thing we should do is stop the growth.
KWAME HOLMAN: But California Democrat Barbara Boxer
complained that Senate Republicans could not convince their House counterparts
to accept the comprehensive approach to immigration reform the president called
for, which includes a guest-worker program.
SEN. BARBARA BOXER (D), California: I don't oppose building a fence
where you need to do it, where the border is porous. I just don't have a
problem with that. What I have a problem with is this narrow approach to the
immigration issue which precludes us from truly fixing our problems.
SPEAKER: The chair will receive a message.
MADAM SECRETARY: Mr. Speaker, a message from the Senate.
MAN ON SENATE FLOOR: Mr. Speaker?
MADAM SECRETARY: Madam Secretary? |
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Rearguing the tribunals bill
KWAME HOLMAN: Meanwhile, the defense bill the Senate passed
this morning was sent to the House, where overwhelming approval was almost
guaranteed. And the nearly $35 billion homeland security spending bill was
approved, as well.
As for the military tribunals bill approved by the House on
Wednesday and the Senate Thursday, it was brought back to the House for
approval of a technical change this afternoon. But members used that as an
opportunity to reargue the merits and shortfalls of the bill.
REP. DAN LUNGREN (R), California:
We're dealing with, as the bill says, alien, unlawful enemy combatants. Those
people are not in uniform. Those people are not following the rules of
international law, with respect to war. Those people hide behind women and children.
REP. JERROLD NADLER (D), New York: When someone is accused of rape or
murder, you don't string them up. You first give them a trial, then string them
up. And what they are saying, what this bill says, is the president or his
designee can designate someone as an unlawful enemy combatant with no trial, no
hearing, no status review, no nothing, throw them in jail forever.
KWAME HOLMAN: Later at a meeting of Republican leaders only,
the necessary signatures were added to the military tribunals bill to clear its
delivery to the president. Still, members of both houses were anticipating this
last day of legislating before the elections to last well into the evening and
beyond.
SEN. BILL FRIST: OK, that's it, Mr. Speaker.
KWAME HOLMAN: But there also was evidence some members of
Congress weren't in too much of a rush to leave. |
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Obama to Unveil Afghan War Strategy
