What the Post doesn't tell you, until the end of the story ...

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.americablog.com/2010/12/gop-house-chair-pushing-tsa.html

Friday, December 31, 2010

GOP House chair pushing TSA privatization while contractor is campaign donor

by John Aravosis (DC) on 12/31/2010 07:30:00 PM

In a rather astounding example of burying the lede, the Washington Post writes today about how many airports are considering using private contractors, instead of the TSA, to handle airport security. Then the Post interviews the incoming House Transportation chairman, who trashes the TSA and is pushing airports to switch to the private contractors.

Rep. John L. Mica (R-Fla.), the incoming chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, has written to 200 of the nation's largest airports, urging them to consider switching to private companies.

The TSA was "never intended to be an army of 67,000 employees," he said.

"If you look at performance, have they ever stopped a terrorist? Anyone can get through," Mica said in an interview. "We've been very lucky, very fortunate. TSA should focus on its mission: setting up the protocol, adapting to the changing threats and gathering intelligence."

What the Post doesn't tell you, until the end of the story, is that one of the big private contractors is in the House Transportation chairman's own district.

[dmr]

1. THAT should be the story!

I heard about this on CNN. They did a whole video story line on it & at the tail end they quickly mentioned the in-district connection. They didn't mention the letters Mica wrote, though. At least I don't remember hearing it if they did.

Does Mica have the right to write those letters on his own? Wonder how much money he's getting out of this.

[Meeker Morgan]

2. I think airport security should be employees of the airlines ...

... just like before George W Bush got his bright idea about federalizing them.

Never mind what the Republicans are doing now out of sheer contrariness. The TSA was a Republican baby.

You do know it busted a lot of union empolyees at the time (though the TSA in now unionized, sort of)?