Eight GOP Senators Opposed Bill That Funded Airport Screening And Explosive Detection

Some of the same Republican lawmakers currently criticizing the President for softness on terrorism voted back in July 2007 against legislation that, among other reforms, provided $250 million for airport screening and explosive detection equipment.

The Improving America's Security Act of 2007 was a relatively non-controversial measure that effectively implemented several un-acted-upon recommendations from the 9/11 Commission. Eighty-five Senators voted in favor of the bill's passage. Seven missed the vote (several of whom were on the campaign trail, including Barack Obama, John McCain and Chris Dodd).

Eight Republican Senators, however, voted against passage, including Sens. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), Tom Coburn (R-Okl.) Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) Elizabeth Dole (R-N.C.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), James Inhofe (R-Okl.) and Jon Kyl (R-Ari.).

The opposition was, at the time, a bit perplexing, considering the praise the legislation received from many of the revered members of the 9/11 Commission itself. Now, following a botched terrorist attack that nearly brought down an airliner over the city of Detroit -- and subsequent conservative complaints that Democrats mishandled matters of national security -- the bill and that vote contain obvious, additional meaning.

The Improving America's Security Act of 2007 mandated 100 percent inspections of air and sea cargo, authorized $4 billion for rail, transit and bus security, and changed methods of allocating security funds so that states and cities with greater risks received a greater share of money.

More relevant to current times, the bill provided the Transportation Security Administration with the authority to use $250 million in funds to "purchase, deployment, installation, research, and development of equipment to improve security screening for explosives at commercial airport checkpoints." It also urged the TSA to "to deploy such technologies quickly and broadly to address security shortcomings at passenger screening checkpoints."

Additionally, the legislation included provisions that required the Department of Homeland Security to "submit a strategic plan to Congress that describes the system to be utilized for comparing [airline] passenger information to watch lists; explains the integration with international flights; and provides a projected timeline for testing and implementation its advanced passenger prescreening system."

Such synchronicity clearly failed the DHS in detecting the failed attempt by Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab to blow up a transcontinental flight above Detroit. But casting a vote against a basic reform of watch-list procedure back in 2007 could complicate the capacity for the GOP to criticize the administration's handling of security breaches today.

DeMint, for one, has accused President Obama of pursuing a homeland security policy that "downplayed terrorism." Graham, meanwhile, has raised concerns about President Obama's decision to transfer terrorist suspects from Guantanamo Bay to Yemen.

(h/t: Spencer Ackerman)

Comments

[Dink]

02:55 PM on 12/31/2009

Would you like to bet $2 that the main-stream media will NOT mention:

Sens. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), Tom Coburn (R-Okl.) Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) Elizabeth Dole (R-N.C.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), James Inhofe (R-Okl.) and Jon Kyl (R-Ari.)

in the same breath with "voted against TSA" and any improvement........ except.... non-union.

The police are unionized.

The fire fighters and paramedics are unionized....

But dead silence about that from the main-stream media....

Too bad you won't bet..... I could use the money.

[Manix]

01:20 PM on 12/31/2009

Conservatives are vile hypocrites.

[Americanium]

12:23 PM on 12/31/2009

They do these things with impunity because (1) The media will not hold them accountable (2) Even if the media reports it, the average voter could not care less.

[FR]

12:13 PM on 12/31/2009

Typical. Somehow these creatures (what a list, eh?) and this party has convinced the voters that they are the "tough" ones on national security. But they regularly vote against our troops, against our safety and against the country.

The only thing they actually do offer is the test osterone and the big mouth.

[markusmarkus]

12:11 PM on 12/31/2009

Not to be contrarian, but why did these dolts vote against the funding?

Ok, they probably didn't have any reason except they we acting on their masters' order.

[Grannysue]

12:09 PM on 12/31/2009

But of course they did, since when did you think that any GOPER was interested in helping or protecting the American Public???

[tahoeprogressive]

06:38 PM on 12/31/2009

Of course they don't care about protecting the American public. It's the same with abortions. If they were ever successful in banning all abortions, they would have nothing to get their base to the polls on election day. The same with easing or eliminating the terror threat.

[johnnyd447]

11:50 AM on 12/31/2009

When will people, realize that that GOP do not care for the American People, They have this hatred anytime there is a bill for our Protection,Health,Wealth and Education the continually oppose it.
I guess they are doing their part against the Useless Eaters... Way to go Jesse V, awaken the USA to the real Rulers. Maybe we will stand up to this minority that oppose the Life and Liberty of the USA.

[coolchange]

11:41 AM on 12/31/2009

I have to state once again.

If the MSM reported on more stories like this instead of leading off their newscasts with stories about who Tiger Woods is allegedly sleeping with, maybe more of our politicians wouldn't be able to get away with simply playing politics with American lives.

Whenever I think about how the main stream media, and too many in public office constantly let the American people down, I think about the words spoken beseechingly to the jury by Atticus Finch played by the late Gregory Peck in "To Kill A Mockingbird".

"In the name of God, do your duty."

[RuleofLawNow]

11:39 AM on 12/31/2009

This list of Senators includes some of the most staunch so-called "conservatives" that the Republican Party has to offer. As such, the mainstream media will likely cower in fear as per usual rather than ask them tough questions about their votes. It is amazing that their shoulder patch patriotism insulates them from inquiry after the decade that we just had. Or maybe I should say AMAZING.

[Citizen13]

11:51 AM on 12/31/2009

Shoulder patch patriotism - appropriate choice of words

[wrightj]

11:32 AM on 12/31/2009

More Hypocriscy from the party of hypocrits (GOP). Nothing new here!

[adamxcl]

11:31 AM on 12/31/2009

I wish some tv news persons would mention this stuff when speaking with these people. As soon as they criticize something, bring up what they've voted for and against in the past. Same with spending. The same party doesn't want debt and spending but wants endless wars, tax cuts and benefits for big companies at the cost of the taxpayers. Makes no sense and the tv crews just let it go by all the time.

[jamaicalover]

12:38 PM on 12/31/2009

Rachel Maddow does it nightly.

[Eris23Skidoo]

03:37 PM on 12/31/2009

The media used to do so on a regular basis. Since reality has such a left-wing bias, it was always the GOPers who were on the wrong end of that particular canon. I think this is why the GOP invented the myth of the liberal media. They kept getting caught with their hands in the cookie jar. They didn't think they were getting caught because they always had their hands in the cookie jar in the first place, they thought it was because the media was out to get them.

Here is how it used to work. There would be a quote by a politician, something like, " 'I want Americans to know that this is a good fight and a necessary fight,' said Newt Gingrich, who recently was under fire for voting against a pay raise for the troops."

This kind of crap never happened to democrats because they weren't hypocritical enough to both vote against a pay raise for troops and then send them off to get killed. It requires a special kind of arrogance and hypocrisy to do both of those things simultaneously and only republicans have the necessary prerequisites.

So, of course, the republicans blamed the media for themselves having been caught in countless scandals and stated that things like the "fairness doctrine" were unfair to conservatives because con's only win when there is no other view to compete with their own.

[SoccerNana]

11:27 AM on 12/31/2009

Well, I guess they figured since the lieutenant was being released to go back home make/sell furniture in 2007, we wouldn't need any extra security years later.

[Okieborn]

11:24 AM on 12/31/2009

Coburn and Inhofe are a couple of "duds" and not interested in anything or anyone unless their is big money in it for them !!
This Oklahoman has had enough of these "C" street jerks !!

[jrutle]

11:27 AM on 12/31/2009

You do have a couple of Jim Dandys.

[nellpost]

11:30 AM on 12/31/2009

I wonder if this article will appear in The Daily Oklahoman! Not!

[Citizen13]

11:10 AM on 12/31/2009

Throwing Monica in our face proved to be the distraction of the century. America’s safety was insignificant to Republicans then like it is now.

What makes anyone think that they have anything other than greed and self-advancement in mind? While few Americans have displayed what substandard education and arrogance create, minimal thinking or the lack of thinking at all, Republicans have taken full advantage.

Americans have had so much bad news that kicking and screaming in place is all anyone has energy for. The long and arduous journey ahead is just too much for the weak minded, petty and lets not forget “Party of No”. Obstruction and denial is all they have left.

[Jamesb333]

11:08 AM on 12/31/2009

Here's a story that won't make it to Fox. Of course the fact that it's news precludes Fox airing it.

[Dadeo]

11:21 AM on 12/31/2009

But aren't they the "fair and balanced" network.
Bookies are missing out on some fast money. How about taking some bets on if a story will be covered or not on FOX.

[SoccerNana]

11:25 AM on 12/31/2009

I'd like to win some of that money, because it won't be on Fixed Noise.

[Eris23Skidoo]

03:40 PM on 12/31/2009

Too easy to predict. There has to be a random factor to make for a decent gambling event. With Fox it is very easy to predict which stories will be on their channel.