‘A New Era of Reform’: TSA Tentatively Allows Private Security Screeners in Orlando
- Posted on June 18, 2012 at 11:52am by
Erica Ritz
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(Photo: AP)
The TSA has given preliminary approval to Orlando’s Sanford International Airport to employ private security screeners, the Washington Post reports, making it the 17th airport in the country to break the TSA’s monopoly on airport security.
(Related: ‘Horrible’: Video Captures Woman Sobbing During TSA Patdown)
“I hope this opens a new era of reform for TSA operations, not only at Orlando Sanford but across the nation,” said Rep. John L. Mica (R-Fla.), chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. “It’s critical that TSA get out of the business of running a huge bureaucracy and human resources operation and refocus its attention on security, analyzing intelligence, and setting the highest risk-based security standards. TSA needs to focus on going after terrorists — not little old ladies, veterans and children.”
The Washington Post continues:
Democrats and the union representing TSA officers, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), have opposed privatization of the workforce that screens people and luggage at the nation’s airports.
In February, AFGE President John Gage told Congress: “The mission of corporations is to make profits from the shareholders and that is in direct conflict with the single focused mission of air travel security for Americans.”
At a House hearing earlier this month, TSA Administrator John Pistole rejected an assertion by Rep. Mike D. Rogers (R-Ala.), chairman of the Homeland Security transportation subcommittee, that TSA “could reduce its ranks by 30 percent to 40 percent and still be able to do the job just as effectively.”
Said Pistole: “No, I don’t agree with that. That’s a huge number.”
(Photo: AP)
The TSA cautions that it still must approve a plan that “does not compromise security or detrimentally affect the cost-efficiency or the effectiveness of the screening of passengers or property at the airport,” before allowing the massive change.
Following his own run-in with the agency, Senator Rand Paul proposed two bills last week that, if passed, would fundamentally transform how the TSA operates.
Politico reports:
The Kentucky Republican introduced legislation that would gut the Transportation Security Administration’s government-operated screening program and establish a passenger bill of rights. One bill would require that the mostly federalized program be turned over to private screeners and allow airports — with Department of Homeland Security approval — to select companies to handle the work.
The second bill would permit travelers to opt out of pat-downs and be rescreened, allow them to call a lawyer when detained, increase the role of dogs in explosive detection, let passengers “appropriately object to mistreatment,” allow children 12 years old and younger to avoid “unnecessary pat-downs” and require the distribution of the new rights at airports.
That legislation also would let airports decide to privatize if wanted and expand TSA’s PreCheck program for trusted travelers.
“While aviation security is undoubtedly important, we must be diligent in protecting the rights of all Americans, such as their freedom from being subjected to humiliating and intrusive searches by TSA agents, especially when there is no obvious cause,” Paul explained.
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LameLiberals
Posted on June 18, 2012 at 10:39pmTSA “ALLOWS private screeners
Airports and the airplanes are PRIVATE PROPERTY. The owners should be able to HIRE whatever PRIVATE screeners they want.
TSA employees are nothing but jack booted wanna be cops with no training and are NOW members of another PUBLIC UNION so it is impossible to fire them and their dues PAY to keep liberals in power. TSA should be DISMANTLED. Save taxpayers money and let the PRIVATE AIRPORTS hire their own security.
Report Post »G-WHIZ
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 11:55amAre the TSA allowing this to be an immediate-change…or is it “after the election”?? How ’bout the other airports in OUR other 49-states??
Report Post »TLS
Posted on June 18, 2012 at 5:19pmName one part of the Federal government that works or is cost effective! 0000000
Report Post »dianna9490
Posted on June 18, 2012 at 6:36pmNope and anyone that goes thru the molestation by the TSA is crazy! Anyone with money knows that all they have to do is buy their own small plane (Like Muslims) and they won’t be screened by anyone for anything – THE ONLY REAL DUMMIES ARE AMERICANS THAT FLY – TELL THE AIRLINES TO GO SUCK AN EGG – DON’T FLY – DO WHATEVER NECESSARY TO REFRAIN – IF YOU HURT THEM IN THEIR POCKET BOOKS THINGS WILL CHANGE!
Report Post »Mr.Fitnah
Posted on June 18, 2012 at 4:45pmMake it really safe hire some company from Dubai to handle security.
Report Post »alpha2omega47
Posted on June 18, 2012 at 4:37pmI will never, never fly again and I think everyone should try to boycott flying for at least one year and send a proper message to the government, the airlines, Homeland Security and the TSA.
Report Post »G-WHIZ
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 11:52amI drive 16-20hrs/each-way, rather than go to airport 5hrs-early, fly for 3-4hrs and have to rent a wreck at the airport with all the extra “airport-fees”,pay$$-by-the-mile, haveto return it early,besides the 5hr-early-for TSA-rape, and the 3-4hr return-flite pluss the 1hr cab-ride back home-again/$50-85.00 each way.
Report Post »TraceyM
Posted on June 18, 2012 at 4:26pmTSA has had private security screeners in San Francisco for years, whey is this new now?
Report Post »G-WHIZ
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 11:58amSooooo…when are they goeing to work at their airport??
Report Post »MRMANN
Posted on June 18, 2012 at 4:02pmGiven the highly invasive nature of these searches, why don’t they change gloves between people?
Report Post »I could get an STD!
Elena2010
Posted on June 18, 2012 at 1:53pmOnly profiling will make it “better.”
Report Post »normalmom
Posted on June 18, 2012 at 6:55pmIf they profiled we wouldn’t have all the complaints, it wouldn’t be necessary. If they actually used a brain as to who to check out this problem wouldn’t be here.
Report Post »G-WHIZ
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 12:07pmAt Dubi and Israel they have the most secure airports in the world!! They PROFILE. In China, you are “followed” from the front-door to the plane-entrance-door and some are asked(dare-I-say-it!) questions!! There are simple weppons-scanners in use…no high-volume-X-RAYs for everyone to foment CANCER.
Report Post »Banter
Posted on June 18, 2012 at 1:40pmOnly in government could we turn over our “security” to people who couldn‘t get a job at McDonald’s.
This is the agency that wages a war on your water bottles. So sure are they that water bottles are a security risk, they let you throw them out in a garbage can in the middle of hundreds of people trying to get through the security line.
This agency was created to “teach” us about control, and to make us numb to it.
Eradicate the entire un-Constitutional Dept of Homeland Security!
Report Post »Tickdog
Posted on June 18, 2012 at 1:39pmand now for the full cavity search…
Report Post »NineteenEighty4
Posted on June 18, 2012 at 12:40pmWonderful news. The TSA is a cancer to our country and all we stand for. At least one congressman still understands and appreciates our constitutional rights. Privatizing is definitely the way to go. Get rid of the people looking for a power trip and a chance to molest our women and children. Why is our security being handled by people who may only have a GED?
Report Post »bitemebiden
Posted on June 18, 2012 at 12:36pmPrivate gropings make it all better… see how sensitive they are to our concerns?
Report Post »jonathanfarrar
Posted on June 18, 2012 at 12:31pmThe right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on June 18, 2012 at 12:16pmDisband the TSA across the board.
Report Post »theblazerunner
Posted on June 18, 2012 at 12:12pmhmmm, i don’t know…what does the constitution say…?
Report Post »CatB
Posted on June 18, 2012 at 12:12pmTSA “allows” .. excuse me …. We the People should not allow our government to feel up our children. I have not (and will not) flown in YEARS. A 6 month moritorum by the public on flying and these TSA thugs would be gone.
Report Post »cristo52
Posted on June 18, 2012 at 12:10pmThis is not the main Orlando airport, but a smaller airport north east of the city that has far less traffic.
Report Post »black9897
Posted on June 18, 2012 at 12:06pmGood start. Now take all of government and privatize the whole thing. Then they could provide their services on a voluntary basis instead of with a gun pointed at my head.
Report Post »Thaaff
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 6:09amHere here….couldn’t have said it better! The fed MUST GO!!!
Report Post »normalmom
Posted on June 18, 2012 at 12:04pmGood idea hopefully these private companies can get over “offending” the ones in muslim garb because those outfits could hide a lot of things. IF they don‘t want to be searched don’t wear that stuff. I get tired of seeing cases where little kids, disabled people and stuff are being searched while the ones where their type are guilty of 9/11 pass by.
Report Post »hotteamakers
Posted on June 18, 2012 at 12:12pmTSA Will Just Remove Their Patches And Badges And Call Themselves Private.
They will still be concentrating of little boy and little girl’s privates. Attractive women and men will still get groped.
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