Menendez wants intel reform passed

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4 (UPI) -- U.S. Rep. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., Saturday castigated the Republican House of Representatives leadership for stalling passage of an intelligence reform bill.

Congress has been considering a bill that includes recommendations made by the 9/11 commission that looked into intelligence failures prior to Sept. 11, 2001. President Bush, in his radio address Saturday, called for passage of the measure next week when Congress resumes its lame-duck session.

Menendez, chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, said in the Democratic radio address the measure has been needlessly held up by House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill.

The measure, Menendez said, would make America safer. "But it has not passed because the House Republican leadership is refusing to bring it up for a vote -- and because, until now, the president has not been willing to use his political capital to make it happen."

The congressman from New Jersey said, "On every front, it would strengthen our intelligence and homeland security, making our families safer." But he quickly added that although there is bipartisan support enough to pass the legislation, because Hastert is demanding a "majority of the majority," the speaker is "putting politics over national security."