by Rhonda Bodfield

Arizona Daily Star Pueblo Politics Blog

After the House passed a bill providing another $701 million in new border security funding Wednesday night, Arizona Sens. John McCain and Jon Kyl introduced their own bill Thursday providing…..$701 million in new border security funding.

The House version, co-sponsored by Arizona Democratic congresswomen Gabrielle Giffords and Ann Kirkpatrick and 10 others, would provide a host of improvements along the border, including 1,200 additional Border Patrol agents, another 500 customs and immigration officers, more money for communications and funding for two more unmanned surveillance aircraft.

So would the Senate alternative pushed by McCain and Kyl. The big difference is the two Republicans say they want to use unused stimulus dollars and money from the troubled “virtual fence” program that has been put on hold.

The dueling propositions were born after the Senate last week shot down a $59 billion emergency war funding measure, which — aside from the border funding — included domestic spending for teachers, summers jobs and student loans.

McCain and Kyl voted against the package, saying while more border funding is needed, it must be paid for. At a town hall over the weekend, Kyl explained the border request was “put in with a bunch of pork,” while McCain said Congress has a duty “not to mortgage our children’s futures.”

In a joint statement yesterday, the two said their version would provide additional resources without impacting the deficit. “It is our hope that the Democratic majority will swiftly work with us to ensure passage of this bill,” they said, adding they still have hopes for their 10-point border plan.

The House version identifies $200 million in cuts to help offset the cost — taking $150 million from the Department of Homeland Security and $51 million from the 2010 census.

Giffords castigated the senators in a floor statement Wednesday night for saying no to ranchers on the border, and to law enforcement that needed the additional resources. The lack of action, she said, was outrageous, “because in Arizona, in my sector, with my constitutents, this is our BP oil spill crisis. Except this crisis has not been going on for a couple months — it’s been going on for years.”

Her spokesman, CJ Karamargin, said the congresswoman would need to review the alternative, but said he was pleased to see the senators take a step in the right direction.