WASHINGTON — It's going to be "Security September" on Capitol Hill.
With GOP control of the House and Senate hanging in the balance in the November midterm elections, Republican leaders want to use the monthlong session that begins today when Congress reconvenes to press what has traditionally been their biggest advantage over Democrats: national security.
House Majority Leader John A. Boehner issued a statement last week emphasizing the theme Republicans plan to hammer. In fact, he reminded voters four times in one sentence.
"From homeland security to national security to border security, House Republicans will focus first and foremost on addressing the safety and security needs of the American people throughout the month of September," Boehner said.
First on the agenda will be spending bills for the departments of Defense and Homeland Security. Though both parties will seize the opportunity to debate terrorism and the war in Iraq, these are must-pass measures.
But the rest of the GOP's security agenda is likely to produce stubborn opposition from Democrats, especially the proposals to give legislative approval to the Bush administration's domestic spying program and a new plan for using military tribunals to try terrorist suspects at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
On the tribunals issue, many Democrats and even some Republicans have suggested President Bush's approach may need to be modified to give detainees greater opportunities to defend themselves.
But the White House and Republican leaders in Congress believe events last month -- particularly the uncovering of an alleged terrorist plot in Britain and a federal court ruling that the domestic surveillance program is unconstitutional -- improve the likelihood that they can enact the tough laws they want in these areas instead of compromising with critics.
They also calculate that, whatever form final legislation might take, debating the tribunal system and domestic surveillance shows the GOP not only focusing on security but taking steps to support tough approaches to the problem.
"Republicans want to get a vote on the record that shows they're strong on national security and intent on taking a tough stand on terrorist suspects," Boehner spokesman Kevin Madden said.
Other items on the agenda, such as immigration and energy costs, are also expected to be painted with the security brush. Gaining better control of the nation's borders and reducing its dependence on imported oil will be presented as vital elements in the war on terrorism.
