Posted on 10/27/2001 6:21:31 PM PDT by Eala
WASHINGTON (AP) - President Bush (news - web sites) asked Congress on Saturday to reject a proposal that would make all passenger and baggage screeners federal employees. He suggested indirectly that such a move could make it more difficult for managers to fire delinquent workers.
In his weekly radio address, Bush renewed his call for placing the government in charge of overseeing, but not employing, airport security workers - an approach embraced in a House bill that will likely face a vote next week. A Senate bill ``federalizing'' the security work force passed, 100-0, on Oct. 11.
``My approach gives the government the flexibility it needs to assemble a skilled and disciplined screening work force,'' Bush said.
He said the Senate bill was ``well-intended,'' but the House legislation is ``the quickest, most effective way to increase aviation security.''
It would ensure that ``security managers can move aggressively to discipline or fire employees who fail to live up to the rigorous new standards,'' he said.
The president's remarks echoed comments Thursday by his press secretary, Ari Fleischer (news - web sites), who questioned whether government employees could be disciplined if they failed to do their jobs.
``If somebody joins the federal civil service, it's often impossible to take any discipline action in a prompt fashion,'' Fleischer said.
The bill pushed by House Republicans would create a Transportation Security Administration within the Transportation Department responsible for security of all modes of transportation. It increases the number of air marshals on flights, takes steps to strengthen cockpit doors, requires law enforcement personnel at each screening location in airports, and imposes a passenger fee of up to $2.50 per flight to pay for new security measures.
The Senate bill and legislation introduced by House Democrats contain many of the same provisions. But the Senate bill would make all 28,000 airport screeners federal workers, allowing smaller airports to use local or state law enforcement officials.
Bush had his national security briefing at Camp David on Saturday morning, with Chief of Staff Andrew Card and national security adviser Condoleezza Rice (news - web sites), among others.
The president planned to watch the opening game of the World Series on Saturday night.
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The House Republican bill is H.R. 3150.
The Senate bill is S. 1447.
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