Political Battle Over Ports Approval.

Source: Washington Post

The White House is losing its tight grip on a secret ports deal that is now being challenged by the Republican leadership in Congress.

House Republican leaders agreed to allow a vote next week that could kill the deal.

Efforts by the White House to hold off legislation challenging a Dubai-owned company's acquisition of operations at six major U.S. ports collapsed yesterday when House Republican leaders agreed to allow a vote next week that could kill the deal.

Appropriations Committee Chairman Jerry Lewis (R-Calif.) will attach legislation to block the deal today to a must-pass emergency spending bill funding the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. A House vote on the measure next week will set up a direct confrontation with President Bush, who sternly vowed to veto any bill delaying or stopping Dubai Ports World's purchase of London-based Peninsular & Oriental Steamship Co.

"Listen, this is a very big political problem," said House Majority Leader John A. Boehner (R-Ohio), explaining that he had to give his rank-and-file members a chance to vote. "There are two things that go on in this town. We do public policy, and we do politics. And you know, most bills at the end of the day, the politics and the policy kind of come together, but not always. And we are into one of these situations where this has become a very hot political potato."

Ron Bonjean, spokesman for House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.), said GOP leadership is "endorsing the viewpoint of our members and Chairman Lewis that we do not believe the U.S. should allow a government-owned company to operate American ports."

This entire port mess just shows us all how much of a fraud this Bush White House is about "homeland security." It's a pretty term they flaunt during elections, but when money is in the mix, it magically falls to the bottom of our priorities list.

This administration cares more about lining their pockets and taking care of donors than the safety of our ports. If anything is grounds for impeachment, this should be a corner-stone item.