Airports Can Go Back to Private Screeners Next Summer

[hightime]

WASHINGTON (AP) - Airports that want to replace government security screeners with privately employed workers can do so by early next summer, the Bush administration told Congress on Thursday.

Thomas Blank, assistant administrator at the Transportation Security Administration, told the Senate aviation subcommittee that airports will have three options: remain in the federal system, use a private contractor to hire and train screeners, or run the screening themselves. They can apply for a change in November.

Airport groups estimate between 20 and 100 of the 445 commercial airports under TSA supervision will choose to opt out of the current system. Those that do will be able to leave the federal system starting early next summer, Black said, though their security systems still will be overseen by the TSA.

Smaller airports are likely to be most interested in running their own screening operations because it would be simpler. They would avoid red tape from Washington while they could do their own hiring and training.

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGB5T1M6VVD.html

[JackDragna]

1. All right!

Nothing like hiring private people to do such an important job. I'm sure the privatization of this industry will work well. Yep. Confident, I am. Dear God.

[Eurobabe]

2. surprised they don't want to do it now so we can have

a repeat of 9-11 before the election?

WTF? Didn't we just spend alot of money to move away from the private system?? Does anybody in Bu$hCo know how to manage ANYTHING?

[freeforall]

10. You're right.

This was one of the biggest issues just after 9/11, and the government stepped in and said, "No private screening. Homeland Security, blah, blah, blah...."

I think that the US will be totally screwed if * gets re-selected. This guy couldn't make up his mind to save his life. I am astonished that there is still so much support for this idiot, and sick of hearing one scandal after another.

I really, really hope you guys will get this A-hole out of office.

[olacan]

3. I am

in favor of that it should be the airlines responsibility to provide the screening. I just hope this means that the size of the Federal govt. payroll will shrink.

[ret5hd]

god yes ...i agree...

anything we can do to shrink the size of the fed gov payroll is imperative. maybe we could try doing away with all those nasty clean air and water regs and the resultant beauracracy. and the bank regs. and the auto safety regs. and the DOE. and the energy dept. and etc.

god yes. gotta shrink that fed payroll.

[indepat]

9. And the Secret Service, the FBI, Homeland Security and the military?

[gulfcoastliberal]

4. Uh huh

The airlines ran the security prior to 9/11.

[Bluebear]

6. Airlines responsibility? Give me a break!

Like they have all this extra cash to provide a high level of security?

[2Design]

7. nope same pay less people....they need the money for their

raises in November right after the election... every year they get them...no matter what is happening in the economy...

[underpants]

14. pssst that is the reason that 9/11 wasn't prevented in the first place

Just in case we forgot.

[54anickel]

5. Sure, why not! They'll be done with their October surprise, might as

well give it back. Was 9-11 really the fault of airport security at the time? Seems to me it went a lot further than just missing the opportunity to nab some folks with box cutters. Do you really feel safer since the government took over the job and has successful confiscated thousands of toe nail clippers? :eyes:

Ever stop to think that those private firms might thwart the October surprise? :tinfoilhat:

[bossfish]

8. So does Halliburton now have an airport security division?

[mbperrin]

11. Bingo! I just bet we've got a winner

here!

[mbperrin]

12. In fact, go HERE

http://www.halliburton.com/infra/sl0060.jsp

"They have decades of experience in aviation facility planning, airport operations, design and construction management of airfields, terminals, fuelling systems and security systems."

lots lots more, too!

[DeepModem Mom]

13. outraged kick --