A US Senator stopped from boarding a plane after refusing a security pat-down responded by introducing a new bill to radically change TSA operations.
Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul’s "bill of rights" would create new regulations for the TSA but also have far more reaching impact: replace government paid screeners with private workers.
The bill also would require the Transportation Security Administration to forward the bulk of the loose change left by harried travelers at checkpoints — $376,480.39 in the 2010 fiscal year — to the U.S. Treasury for deficit reduction, said the AP.
The Republican senator’s bills are among dozens dealing with air travel that have been introduced by frequent-flying members of Congress. There’s no particular reason for thinking this bill will be passed but it has added to the debate over the TSA’s performance.
By David Wilkening
