Representatives warn Bush over SPP goals, secrecy

Twenty-two members of the U.S. House of Representatives have urged President Bush to back off from his efforts to integrate North America as one continent instead of three separate countries, the central goal of the Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP). Meetings regarding the SPP are going on now in Canada.

The letter warns Bush of growing apprehension in Congress about the SPP. The authors said they are also worried about the secretive manner in which SPP is being conducted and are concerned it "may actually undermine our security and sovereignty. Measures that would make it easier to move goods and people across borders could have the effect of further weakening this country's ability to secure its frontiers and prevent illegal immigration."

The letter referred to the difficulty organizations have had accessing records from earlier SPP meetings, adding "The more transparency the better." It made note of the amendment added by Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., to the transportation funding bill for FY 2008, which would prohibit the use of federal funds to participate in SPP-related working group meetings.

The vote on Hunter's amendment, they said "is an indication of the serious concerns felt by those of us in Congress and by our constituents about this initiative – concerns that will only be intensified if pursuit of the SPP continues out of public view and without congressional oversight or approval." It concluded, "we urge you to bring to the Congress whatever provisions have already been agreed upon and those now being pursued or contemplated as part of this initiative, for the purpose of obtaining authorization through the normal legislative process."

Signers included Rep. Terry Everett R-AL, Rep. Duncan Hunter R-CA, Rep. Tom Tancredo R-CO, Rep. Ted Poe R-TX, Rep. Nancy Boyda D-KS, Rep. Walter Jones R-NC, Rep. David Davis R-TN, Rep. Phil Gingrey R-GA, Rep. John Boozman R-AR, Rep. John Duncan R-TN, Rep. Virgil Goode R-VA, Rep. Tom Price R-GA, Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite R-FL, Rep. Sue Myrick R-NC, Rep. Jo Bonner R-AL, Rep. Gary Miller R-CA, Rep. Steve King R-IA, Rep. Greg Walden R-OR, Rep. Michael Rogers R-AL, Rep. Thaddeus McCotter R-MI, Rep. Robert Aderholt R-AL, Rep. Todd Akin R-MO.