Russ Feingold: “we need to improve our border security, and I have worked to do just that by supporting efforts to crack down on Mexican…”

“we need to improve our border security, and I have worked to do just that by supporting efforts to crack down on Mexican drug cartels and to increase the number of Federal agents and Homeland Security personnel on the ground in the Southwest border region. Unfortunately, the three amendments the Senate considered today that were intended to enhance border security would have redirected funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. It doesn't make sense to cut funding from a program CBO says boosted employment by as many as 2.8 million jobs in the first quarter of 2010, while raising GDP somewhere between 1.7 and 4.2 percent. We face serious fiscal challenges, and we need to cut wasteful spending, but the American people should not have to choose between saving jobs and protecting our border.”