Jon E. Dougherty, NewsMax.com
Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2004

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  The Wisconsin Republican and chairman of the House Judiciary Committee has put his foot down regarding a bill aimed at overhauling the U.S. intelligence community because it does not include measures to, among other things, forbid states from handing out driver's licenses to illegal aliens.

While that may not seem like an important matter in overall terms of national security, Sensenbrenner is quick to point out the federal panel investigating the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks specifically recommended rules surrounding the issuance of driver's licenses in states be tightened up.

They did so because the group of 9/11 hijackers all had multiple valid driver's licenses, and they helped to so of legitimize the terrorists and enable them to move around unimpeded.

For that reason alone, Sensenbrenner says, it makes no sense not to have a provision in the new intelligence bill forbidding states from issuing licenses willy-nilly to aliens and asylum seekers.

Stalemate

On the surface, the reform bill—which most lawmakers on both sides of the aisle agree is necessary—seems innocuous enough.

According to a description by the Washington Post, it "would create a director of national intelligence to manage the CIA and 14 other agencies of the U.S. intelligence community, and a national counterterrorism center to coordinate analysis and develop strategic plans to fight terrorists at home and abroad."

Supporters, including President Bush—who has personally lobbied lawmakers to pass the measure—say it is vital to reforming the nation's fractious and fractured intelligence apparatus.

But while even GOP opponents of the measure support those goals, they say other provisions are missing that will render the bill ineffective at best and counterproductive at worst.

Another of those opponents, Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., head of the House Armed Services Committee, has joined Sensenbrenner in refusing to give in. For his part, Hunter doesn't like the bill because he says the Pentagon has warned it would interfere with the head of the Defense Department to support military operations.

Both sides are dug in, which means the measure is likely going to end up a stalemate.

"I don't see a reopening of the issues in conference. We've compromised as much as we can," Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, told the Post. "The bill is not dead, but it is in trouble."

Too Much at Stake

For Sensenbrenner, there is too much at stake to compromise his position.

"In order to adequately protect America, we need to set tough federal standards on driver's licenses and to deny [them] to illegal aliens," he told NewsMax in an interview.

"The reason this is important is that the 9/11 commission found 19 hijackers got 63 valid driver's licenses" from states, he said.

In addition to the license provision, he said the U.S. must "tighten up on our asylum laws, so that people can't come into the country, claim asylum, then be at large and free to plan and plot terrorist [attacks]" before their immigration hearing, which often takes years.

"This has been used to gain entry to our system for terrorists" other than those involved in 9/11, he told NewsMax.

He says without these provisions, "we can have the best intelligence in the world, but if our law enforcement doesn't have the tools to identify, detain and deport suspected terrorists, then good intelligence is not going to result in additional protection for the American people."

Bush Support Not Key

To the Wisconsin congressman, Bush's support isn't necessarily key to gaining passage of the bill. Rather, it's constituents that matter most this time out.

"The phone calls that have come into my office have been about 30-to-1 in favor of what I’m trying to do," he said. "People understand that illegal aliens and terrorists are gaming our immigration system. And they understand the problems of illegal aliens getting driver's licenses legally."

Sensenbrenner says Americans are demanding these loopholes be plugged, and he agrees with them.

"These loopholes were plugged in the House version of [the intelligence bill]" passed in October, he added.

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