House to see if Bush can find his pen

Bush Faces GOP Effort to Stop Ports Deal By LIZ SIDOTI, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - His presidency already at a low point,President Bush now faces a GOP move in Congress to stop a plan he steadfastly supports: a Dubai-owned company's entry into U.S. port operations.

House Republicans have united around legislation that would block DP World from taking over significant management of terminals at six U.S. ports, ignoring a veto threat from the president.

"We are going to send a very clear signal that we want to have American interests secured by leaders in America," said Rep. Jerry Lewis (news, bio, voting record), R-Calif.

His House Appropriations Committee planned to attach the legislation Wednesday to a $91 billion measure for states recovering from Hurricane Katrina and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Offering few specifics, Lewis said only that his legislation would not single out any one country or company but would effectively prevent DP World from operating U.S. port terminals.Full text

Brilliant! I am sure that some folks at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue just had a coniption. It is about time that Congress, especially the Republicans, started acting like they have a spine and not a rubber stamp committee.

For the record, I am opposed to any foreign government having control of US ports etc. I am not saying Nissan shouldn't own land in Tennessee to make trucks. I am saying Japan shouldn't own the Nashville airport. There is a huge difference. Think of it this way: Imagine the backlash in Dubai if it were announced that the United States government would now be solely in charge of their airports.