Posted on 02/27/2007 2:27:59 PM PST by RWR8189
WASHINGTON-President Bush probably would veto a Sept. 11 antiterrorism bill if it includes a Democratic-sponsored provision to let federal airport screeners unionize, a Republican senator said Tuesday.
"The president's message on the bill is going to come out tomorrow. I think that it will contain a veto threat on the TSA collective bargaining position," Sen. Susan Collins (news, bio, voting record), R-Maine, said, referring to the Transportation Security Administration.
Collins said Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff told her of the impending veto threat.
A White House spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Such a veto threat would be an effort to flex Bush's political muscle with the new, Democratic-led Congress on the old battleground of labor rights. It also could throw an obstacle into talks over how to debate and pass the recommendations of the Sept. 11 Commission.
For now, senators are eager to follow the House and pass a bill enacting the commission's recommendations to tighten the nation's security. The House bill also includes a provision that would let TSA screeners bargain collectively.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (news, bio, voting record) of Nevada and Republican leader Mitch McConnell (news, bio, voting record) of Kentucky had reached a tentative agreement Tuesday to conduct the debate over the next 10 days without the distraction of Iraq.
The sense of urgency on the 9/11 recommendations was conveyed to both leaders in a letter Tuesday from families of those killed in the terrorist attacks on that day in 2001.
"This legislation is far too important to be politicized by ... controversial amendments and debate, particularly those relating to Iraq," wrote Carol Ashley and Mary Fetchet of the Voices of September 11th.
Reid and McConnell said the Iraq debate would wait for next month, after passage of the 9/11 bill. The arrangement would allow the Senate to debate legislation bolstering antiterrorism security measures on railroads and airlines without being distracted by the furor over President Bush's buildup of troops in Iraq.
"We have got to finish this bill," Reid, D-Nev., said as he opened the Senate session. He read parts of a letter from relatives of people killed in the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks asking the Senate to consider the legislation "without complications regarding Iraq."
Even minus an Iraq debate, provisions in the antiterrorism bill or planned amendments make the legislation contentious.
The administration vigorously opposes a measure that would give TSA screeners the same collective bargaining and whistleblower rights held by most other federal employees. The White House also opposes an amendment that would let states delay adopting standardized drivers' licenses.
Senate Homeland Security Committee Chairman Joe Lieberman of Connecticut said screeners have been denied the most basic employee protections since joining the federal payroll after the Sept. 11 attacks.
Collins said Chertoff delivered a staunch defense of the administration's position during the GOP caucus' weekly policy lunch Tuesday. She said she nonetheless plans to try to attach an amendment that would delay requirements for states to adopt national drivers license standards.
Many states have complained about the cost of the program, and civil libertarians are concerned about privacy issues.
Other measures in the bill would improve rail and aviation security, provide funds for state and local emergency communications systems, improve intelligence sharing between federal, state and local officials, and expand a visa waiver benefit for favored countries.
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The bill is S.4
Man, as slowly as they move now they'd have to be dead to get less done after they unionize.
The whistleblower rights are what he is most afraid of. He's spent the last 5 years trying to get rid of those rights for all federal employees.
labor rights.
Labor rights?
Sure.
Labor rights to taxpayers money?
No way. No thanks.
There are plenty of other jobs outside of government that wont deny basic protections.
Quit the government at go find one!
Of course you will have to work to maintain your basic employee protections.
How do I doubt this? Let me count the ways . . . .
Bush won't veto anything - his VETO pen was sent out for cleaning after the one and only time he used it and he wants to keep it that way something really important crosses his desk that REALLY needs vetoing.
This will pass and he will sign it. After all, he bowed down to tiny tommy daschle and created this dreck agency, why would he get in the way of making the whole thing that much worse??
Until now every bill signed by Bush made its way through a very friendly House of Representatives.
The times have changed.
I wouldn't be surprised to see the veto pen get quite a work out in the next two years.
As I recall, Daschle held up the homeland security bill to force unionization of the security workers. I thought he won. I can't believe that those luggage checkers are not union workers.
I''m not really familiar with these "whistleblower rights". Could you briefly explain them for me? Thanks.
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