Kirk wants 'Homeland insecurity impact' study as Illinois mulls holding detainees

GOP Lawmakers are pushing a provision requiring the White House to study the impact transferring alleged terror detainees to a prison in their state would have on Chicago's O'Hare Airport and the Willis (Sears) Tower.

They say the study should be done before any transfer happens.

A handful of the state's congressional delegation took to the mics on Monday morning in Chicago, where Rep. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) announced his intention to amend the upcoming supplemental appropriations bill.

"I will offer the Kirk Amendment to the upcoming supplemental appropriations bill requiring a ‘Homeland Insecurity Impact Statement’ on the potential impact on O’Hare and the Willis (Sears) Tower in Chicago before federal funds can be used to bring al Qaeda terrorists to Illinois. If we are serious about creating jobs in Illinois, we should rein in spending and reduce regulation, and not bring terrorists to our state," the Illinois Senate candidate said.

Since learning of the idea to transfer nearly 200 enemy combatants detained at the military detention center in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Kirk said he's been bombarded by calls in opposition to the plan supported by the Democratic governor and senior homestate senator, Richard Durbin (D).

"There has been overwhelming opposition to this from Democrats [and] Republicans. The economic benefits are too small, too tenuous," Kirk said in a phone interview with The Hill on Monday.