Bush administration backs House on budget, borders

The White House late Monday offered support for House provisions in the intelligence overhaul bill to keep classified the total amount of the intelligence budget, as well as provisions to strengthen border security.

OMB Director Joshua Bolten and National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice outlined the administration position on the competing versions but did not mention a timetable other than President Bush would like a bill "as soon as possible." House GOP aides said Tuesday the letter bodes well for the House measure.

"I think it's pretty darn supportive of our provisions," said a spokesman for the House Judiciary Committee, which drafted immigration and law enforcement sections that critics have said could bog down final passage.

Another senior GOP leadership aide noted, "Now they are White House-House backed provisions."

The administration offered its strongest criticism of the House and Senate bills for failing to include congressional oversight language, although aides said House leaders plan to tackle oversight before the next Congress organizes itself.

"There is a normal process for this, and there is an appropriate place to have this discussion," the aide said. "If we were to combine [overhaul and oversight], we may not get either done effectively." Senate leaders could not be reached at presstime.

House conference staffers said the letter could spur conferees, who are scheduled to meet for the first time Wednesday morning. House staffers contend the Senate is using the Election Day deadline to force the House to drop the contentious provisions. House and Senate aides were continuing discussions today, and House Intelligence Chairman Hoekstra, the conference chairman, told conferees to remain in town through Saturday.

The White House said it supports the Senate version on creating a national intelligence director with budget and personnel authority. But the administration said it opposes Senate provisions that could blur the chain of command among executive branch agencies, creating "voluminous and bureaucratic requirements" and additional layers of bureaucracy to ensure Americans' civil liberties and privacy rights are protected.

The White House also opposes the creation of national counterterrorism centers to fight the global war on terrorism, such as on weapons of mass destruction and non-proliferation, asserting that these centers could undermine ongoing efforts in the intelligence community.

In addition, the White House criticized Senate provisions related to enhanced information sharing, declassification of the intelligence budget and the ability of lawmakers to appeal the administration's discretion over information classification.

The White House also opposed several House provisions related to government restructuring, including "burdensome reporting requirements," state funding for border security, personnel organization and ethics laws.