Philadelphia monument fencing draws criticism.

Plans by the National Park Service to construct a seven-foot-high iron fence in Philadelphia, Penn.'s Independence Square have been moving forward despite harsh criticism from elected officials on both sides of the aisle.

The square is the location where the Declaration of Independence was read for the first time on July 8, 1776. The NPS plan would bisect the square with the security fence, which is intended to protect Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell.

The fencing is part of a $2 million Independence Square security plan, which is one of the Bush administration's post-9/11 security directives. Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Penn.) and Rep. Chaka Fattah (D-Penn.) have joined in reconsidering the overall security system of the area to determine if other options are available.

Fattah said he asked Specter for help in motivating the incoming park director Mary Bomar to look at other ideas for securing the area, yet to be determined.

Local government officials are displeased with the plan as well. Pennsylvania State Sen. Vincent J. Fumo (D-Philadelphia) says that he intends to fight the plan. He explained that the fence would have more meaning than just erecting a steel structure. "Maybe because this is the birthplace of liberty, we take this more seriously than other places," Fumo said.

The plan also calls for transforming the first U.S. Supreme Court building, known as Old City Hall, into a permanent security screening facility, which has largely been completed as it is already used for visitor screening and is staffed with guards.