Senate Democrats defeat bid to bar funding for a U.S. Gitmo. Eric Holder on Hill today

By Sun-Times Wire

WASHINGTON–Senate Democrats defeated Tuesday a bid by Republicans to bar money being spent for prisons–that would include a proposed Gitmo North in Illinois–to take detainees from Guantanamo Bay military prison in Cuba. This is only the first skirmish. Attorney General Eric Holder testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee today–Wednesday– on his decision to try the 9-11 suspects not at Gitmo in a New York courtroom. The subject of sending detainees to prisons on U.S. soil is expected to come up. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), who supports the federal government buying the Thomson Correctional Center in northwest Illinois for the detainees, is on the committee.

Below, information on the defeated measure from www.senate.gov.

S.AMDT.2774

Amends: H.R.3082 , S.AMDT.2730

Sponsor: Sen Inhofe, James M. [OK] (submitted 11/10/2009) (proposed 11/10/2009)

AMENDMENT PURPOSE:

To prohibit the use of funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act to construct or modify a facility in the United States or its territories to permanently or temporarily hold any individual held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

TEXT OF AMENDMENT AS SUBMITTED: CR S11351

STATUS:

11/10/2009:

Amendment SA 2774 proposed by Senator DeMint for Senator Inhofe to Amendment SA 2730. (consideration: CR S11334; text: CR S11334)

11/16/2009:

Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S11362)

11/17/2009:

Considered by Senate.

11/17/2009:

Motion to table amendment SA 2774 agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 57 – 43. Record Vote Number: 347.

COSPONSORS(15):

Sen Barrasso, John [WY] – 11/10/2009