Big Sis Napolitano: A National Embarrassment
Posted on 06/20/2011 10:45:02 PM PDT by smoothsailing
By Peggy Fikac
Updated 11:20 p.m., Monday, June 20, 2011
AUSTIN — Gov. Rick Perry, under pressure from tea party activists, on Monday added to lawmakers' to-do list a ban on airport security searches considered intrusive without probable cause to believe someone has committed an offense.
The measure died in the regular legislative session in the wake of warnings from federal officials that it would conflict with federal law and could force flight cancellations if the safety of passengers and crew couldn't be assured.
“We can't let threats from the federal government stop the Legislature from passing legislation that we believe is wanted by our citizens. I do not believe they will shut down our airports,” said Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, applauding Perry's decision to add the issue to the special-session agenda. Patrick is pushing the bill with Rep. David Simpson, R-Longview.
The legislation would provide that federal employees, if they perform a search that involves touching a person's private parts without probable cause, commit the offense of official oppression.
Critics were dismayed at the addition to the agenda.
“I'd get a big laugh out of it, if we didn't have so many serious public-policy issues confronting the people of Texas,” said Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston.
“The aviation industry is too important for the state of Texas, and national security is too important for our country, to get into this chest-thumping to try to make some political points and second-guess the federal government about protecting our airplanes in America,” he said.
Sen. Leticia Van de Putte of San Antonio, head of the Senate Democratic Caucus, said she hates such searches and initially was going to vote for Patrick's bill in the regular session before she learned about the potential effect on air travel in Texas.
Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, whom Patrick blamed for the bill's death in the regular session, had asked Perry to add it to the special-session agenda. Dewhurst said in the regular session that Patrick's bill lost support after the federal government expressed its concern.
“After working closely with the attorney general's office the last few weeks, I'm confident that we can pass legislation that addresses these threats, while protecting innocent passengers and preserving our state's rights,” Dewhurst said.
Perry, increasingly in the national spotlight as a potential presidential candidate, said at a book-signing at the Republican Leadership Conference in New Orleans last weekend that backers didn't have enough votes to pass it. Perry said then that he likely wouldn't add it to the agenda because there wasn't enough time left in the special session.
Patrick said Monday that Simpson has signed up 112 sponsors in the 150-member House, and Patrick said he has 17 votes in the 31-member Senate. He said Perry “has always been supportive of the issue” and now that he realizes the votes are there, the governor has listened to a clear message from “the tea party groups, the grass roots.”
Staff Writer Nolan Hicks contributed to this report.
git er done
Big Sis Napolitano: A National Embarrassment
TX anti TSA ping.
Good to know, thanks
We need to stand up to them.
There are more threads on this issue.
Thanks for the ping! This is one that needs to happen! I now hate to fly because of the procedures in place!
I haven’t had to (or wanted to) fly since Nov of 2008. The TX legislature should tell the TSA to take a flying leap at a rolling donut.
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