Supreme Court sanctions the fence

Disappointing. Not surprising, but disappointing.

The Supreme Court on Monday gave the green light to the Bush administration to press forward with plans to complete a controversial fence along the U.S.-Mexico border.

The high court, without comment, declined to hear an appeal from two environmental groups -- the Sierra Club and the Defenders of Wildlife. They had filed suit to reverse a decision by the Homeland Security secretary, Michael Chertoff, to waive environmental and other laws and regulations that would have slowed construction of 670 miles of border fencing by the end of the year.

I hope that we learn the lesson that it's a bad idea to give anyone unlimited powers - especially charlatans like Michael Chertoff - before it's too late. Assuming that it isn't already too late, of course.

The Texas Border Coalition, made up of border mayors and county judges from 10 Texas border communities from Brownsville to El Paso, filed a separate lawsuit in May against Chertoff's department, claiming the property rights of landowners had been violated.

Eagle Pass Mayor Chad Foster said the lawsuit was filed because Chertoff had gone too far to build "this feel-good but ineffective Great Wall of Texas."

The Border Coalition's lawsuit is pending before a court in Washington.

Let's just say I'm not filled with hope about that. The Texas Observer and South Texas Chisme have more.

Posted by Charles Kuffner on June 25, 2008 to National news