Senate Proceeding on May 12th, 2009 :: 0:06:30 to 0:15:40
Total video length: 2 hours 29 minutes Stream Tools: Stream Overview | Edit Time

Note: MetaVid video transcripts may contain inaccuracies, help us build a more perfect archive

Views:78 Duration: 0:09:10 Discussion

Previous speech:

Next speech:

0:06:26 to 0:06:46( Edit History Discussion )

Mitch McConnell: to speak first. mr. president, i have something i h mr. mcconnell: mr. president? the presiding officer: mr. republican leader. mr. mcconnell: i say to my good friend, the majority leader, i'm sure t decision to stick with the no-vote monday was created with great pleasure on this side of the aisle as well. mr. president, for the last

0:06:30 to 0:15:40( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Mitch McConnell

0:06:47 to 0:07:08( Edit History Discussion )

Mitch McConnell: several weeks i've repeatedly expressed my concerns about the administration's decision to fix an gutanamo before it has a plan for the detainees. in my view, it i irresponsible for the administration to announce the closure of this safe and secure facility before it could assure the american people that the alternative would be no less safe.

0:07:09 to 0:07:31( Edit History Discussion )

Mitch McConnell: so far the administration's response to these concerns has been to that any further transfer will not endanger americans. attorney general holder says that detainees from guantanamo would only be prisons if he is convinced that doing so won't impact the safety of the communities they're sent to. national security advisor

0:07:32 to 0:07:52( Edit History Discussion )

Mitch McConnell: general jones has said the same thing. on suny on one of the shows he said nothing would be done to make americans -- quote -- "less safe." these assurances may be consoling to some, but americans deserve more than vague assurances. they want to know which communities are being considered and they want to know how the people who live in these communities would be affected by

0:07:53 to 0:08:14( Edit History Discussion )

Mitch McConnell: the arrival of terrorists. in short, americans want the kind of assurances and specifics the attorney general has evidently s governments like he did recently on a trip to with the united states now, news reports indicate that alexandria, virginia, is a possible destination for some

0:08:15 to 0:08:35( Edit History Discussion )

Mitch McConnell: detainees from guantanamo. a few years ago when one of the 9/11 conspirators, zack rye mouss iowa was held -- one one of the conspirators was held in

0:08:36 to 0:08:56( Edit History Discussion )

Mitch McConnell: alexandria, the jail had to set aside x cells for him. the entire prison was locked down. whenever he was courthouse, traffic was stopped, a major inconvenience to locals and local businesses. these wr-rt security requirements, mr. president -- were the security requirements, mr. president, for just one terrorist.

0:08:57 to 0:09:21( Edit History Discussion )

Mitch McConnell: imagine duplicating those procedures many times over for multiple detainees from guantanamo. based on its own past experience with moussai, local officia in alexandria are concerned. e mayor of alexandria said recently he is absolutely opposed to detainees from guantanamo going to alexandria and that

0:09:22 to 0:09:42( Edit History Discussion )

Mitch McConnell: that's the mayor of alexandria. alexandria's sheriff is also unconvinced by the administration's claims. he said that if multiple detainees were sent to alexandria, they could -- quote -- "overwhelm the system congressman jim moran who represents alexandria is one of the few people who is a open to the idea of domestic

0:09:43 to 0:10:03( Edit History Discussion )

Mitch McConnell: transfers, but even he admits the strain would be intense. yet, what is even more worrisome to some officials at the local level is the prospect that any city which houses these detainees could become the target of a terrorist attack. the residents of alexandria are concerned about it, and so are the residents of communities all across the country.

0:10:04 to 0:10:24( Edit History Discussion )

Mitch McConnell: i can assure you that kentuckians don't want detainees from guantanamo living anywhere within our borders. and i know that communities all over the country share the same concerns. already state and local officials in places like louisiana, california and mississippi have been introducing rolutions to stop these terrorists from being sent to their communities.

0:10:25 to 0:10:45( Edit History Discussion )

Mitch McConnell: in virginia, the stafford county board of supervisors passed a resolution opposing the transfer of guantanamo prisoners to the marine base at quantico. in missouri, the legislature passed a resolution urging congress to keep the detaine out of that state. similar measures have been introduced or approved in other

0:10:46 to 0:11:06( Edit History Discussion )

Mitch McConnell: states, including california where camp pendelton is considered a candidate to receive detainees. here in washington, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are also razeeing concerns. one democratic -- are raising concerns. one democrat was asked about detainees being sent to his state. he was blunt. no way, he

0:11:07 to 0:11:27( Edit History Discussion )

Mitch McConnell: other democrats voiced serious concerns about the impact of have on their communities. they know about the experience of alexandria during the moussai trial and they don't want to dupl communities. so there is strong bipartisan opposition to this proposal. i can't think of a congressional district in america that would

0:11:28 to 0:11:48( Edit History Discussion )

Mitch McConnell: welcome terrorists. local communities want the administration to explain how transferring or releasing detainees won't make them -- quote -- "less safe." and the american peopl administration to explain its plans to their elected representatives here in congress. now senator sessions, the ranking member of the judiciary

0:11:49 to 0:12:09( Edit History Discussion )

Mitch McConnell: committee, has now sent the attorney general two letters asking what legal authority the administration has to release united states. he's yet to receive the courtesy of a response. imagine that, the ranking member of the judiciary committee sent

0:12:10 to 0:12:30( Edit History Discussion )

Mitch McConnell: the attorney general a pointing out that the law apparently prohibits the transferring of terrorists to the united states soil, and he's not yet gotten a reply after two letters. virginia congressman frank wolf sent a letter to the attorney general inarch regarding concerns he had about

0:12:31 to 0:12:51( Edit History Discussion )

Mitch McConnell: transferring guantanamo detainees to alexandria. he has since sent two more letters. the attorney general has not re requests. the democrats are also demanding that the administration provide details for how it plans to deal with the terrorists at guantanamo.

0:12:52 to 0:13:12( Edit History Discussion )

Mitch McConnell: senior democrats are now acknowledging that the administration simply does not have a plan and are asking the administration to provide one. members of congress have a responsibility to ensure that the administration is not taking any actions that endanger the american people, and we have a responsibility to protect our constituents.

0:13:13 to 0:13:34( Edit History Discussion )

Mitch McConnell: it is simply unacceptable that the attorney general is willing to discuss details about his plans for guantanamo with foreign countries -- foreign co american people or their elected representatives. members of congress deserve and the american people expect the administration to provide us

0:13:35 to 0:13:56( Edit History Discussion )

Mitch McConnell: with answers. now, mr. president, on one other subject, later today the trustees of the social security and medicare trust funds release their annual report which will give us an idea of the current and projected financial health of these programs. we don't know exactly what they'll say, but we know that

0:13:57 to 0:14:18( Edit History Discussion )

Mitch McConnell: the news won't be everyone knows programs are unsustainable under current conditions, and the problem is only getting worse. unfortunately, it's a problem the democrats' budget does thought address. despite -- does not address. despite repeated calls from our side of the aisle, entitlement

0:14:19 to 0:14:39( Edit History Discussion )

Mitch McConnell: spending has been overlooked for far too long and it's not completely, completely out of control. this is a fiscal crisis of the first order, and it's a crisis that can't wait any longer to be addressed. nearly $7 out of $10 government spends every year go directly to m on programs

0:14:40 to 0:15:01( Edit History Discussion )

Mitch McConnell: medicaid, social security and the interest on the national debt. soon enough social security, medicare and other entitlements will consume about twice the percentage of the federal budget they did four decades ago. if we don't this spending have a fraction left for vital priorities such as defense,

0:15:02 to 0:15:23( Edit History Discussion )

Mitch McConnell: health care, transportation, and other job creators. we must address the issue of entitlement spending now before it is too late. as i've said many times before is the best way is the conrad-gregg proposal which

0:15:24 to 0:15:40( Edit History Discussion )

Mitch McConnell: would have an expedited program. this plan w debt and spending under it deserves support from both sides of the aisle. now, the administration has expressed a desire to take entitlement reform and given the