(APN) ATLANTA - US Senator Menendez (D-NJ) is "looking closely" at signing on to US Senator Russell Feingold's (D-WI) bill to censure President Bush, Senator Menendez told Atlanta Progressive News during an in-person interview.
Menendez told Atlanta Progressive News that many US Senators are looking closely at the bill, S Res 398.
When they are satisfied after investigating the facts that the President broke the law, he is sure more Senators would sign on, Menendez said.
The other co-sponsors are Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Tom Harkin (D-IA).
The blog Firedoglake had reported Menendez planned to sign on to the bill months ago and later retracted their report due to what the bloggers there said was conflicting information.
What does Menendez say about the lack of congressional oversight of the President?
To form investigative panels, oversight committees, and the like, requires the consent of the majority party, Menendez said.
However, the will of the American people cannot be circumvented if enough of us demand change, Menendez said.
The US Senator was in town to discuss immigration at a panel by The Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials (GALEO). Mr. Menendez is currently only one of three Hispanic Members of the US Senate; the other two are Mel Martinez (R-FL) and Ken Salazar (D-CO).
"Why not send the National Guard to the Canadian border, too? All the 9/11 terrorists entered our country through Canada, not Mexico," Sen. Menendez said in response to President Bush's call for troops on our southern border.
Agreeing with the President it is unrealistic to try deporting 12 million illegal aliens, the Senator also said the cost to do so would exceed $250 billion.
"Let's deal with reality," he said.
Menendez said he, like many others, supports the McCain-Kennedy bill currently being debated again before the Senate. Menendez called the legislation "tough and smart."
"This is not amnesty. Citizenship must be earned by paying a fine, getting in line behind legal applicants, proving that you paid taxes and have no criminal record, and learning English," he said.
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