TSA makes Texas squirm
Image via WikipediaThe Texas legislature needs to grow a backbone. A state that prides itself on its independence and the slogan “Don’t mess with Texas” ought not to be easily cowed as the upper chamber was Wednesday. When the time came for a vote to hold the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) accountable for its despicable airport-screening practices, it only took a scary letter from a Department of Justice bureaucrat to convince enough senators to hoist the white flag.There seems to be a bit of over reaction on both sides. I have been through the pat downs and did not find them offensive, so I did not see the need for the law. But perhaps others may have experience more invasive searches and had reason to complain. If it is a problem, Texas needs to find a less bludgeoning way of dealing with it.
On May 13, the state House of Representatives had unanimously approved legislation applying sexual-harassment statutes to TSA agents who conducted intimate searches absent probable cause and without the backing of a specific federal law authorizing the procedure. Because the rogue federal agency has neither, Obama administration officials resorted this week to intimidation to thwart the bill as it came up in the state Senate.
On Tuesday, U.S. Attorney John E. Murphy dispatched a letter to Texas Speaker Joe Straus and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst threatening to ground flights in the Lone Star State. “If HR 1937 were enacted, the federal government would likely seek an emergency stay of the statute,” Mr. Murphy wrote. “Unless or until such a stay were granted, TSA would likely be required to cancel any flight or series of flights for which it could not ensure the safety of passengers or crew.”
The bill’s primary sponsor, state Rep. David Simpson, a Republican, says that’s a bluff. “I don’t think it’s realistic at all,” he told The Washington Times. “I think it’s political cover.” Cutting off Texas would throw the entire air-transport system into chaos. Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport is the third busiest in the world and the primary hub for American Airlines. Last year, the airport handled nearly 1,800 flights per day. Houston’s three main airports served 135,000 passengers per day. Every domestic airline would be in court to challenge any move to cut off Texas just because TSA’s feelings were hurt.
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I do think the threat to shut down air traffic in Texas was ridiculous. If they were concerned about the act, the feds could have gone to court and gotten an injunction. They certainly have been willing to do that under this administration.
Hi Merv,
ReplyDeleteI read your post on the Texas pat-down bill. I also haven’t experienced the more hands-on TSA screenings even though I’ve flown fairly often in the past year, but I’ve read reports and seen video diaries of people who felt very violated. I agree that shutting down air traffic is a little extreme; all it does is negatively affect thousands of travellers by making air travel even more frustrating. I wanted to share this video on the Texas fiasco with you. I think you’ll appreciate how it analyzes news coverage from different sources, including perspectives from a TSA rep and Texas legislators. I hope you’ll considering embedding the video in your post.
http://www.newsy.com/videos/tx-bill-prohibiting-enhanced-pat-downs-stalls-in-senate/
Thanks for posting. My dad is a Vietnam vet too, and I always like to get the opinion of someone who’s put more on the line than a vote at the ballot box.
Kate