Firms' lobbying push comes amid rancor on TSA use of airport full-body scanners

Washington Post ^ | December 24, 2010 | Dan Eggen

[opentalk]

The companies that build futuristic airport scanners take a more old-fashioned approach when it comes to pushing their business interests in Washington: hiring dozens of former lawmakers, congressional aides and federal employees as their lobbyists.

About eight of every 10 registered lobbyists who work for scanner-technology companies previously held positions in the government or Congress, most commonly in the homeland security, aviation or intelligence fields, a Washington Post review of lobbying-disclosure forms and other data shows.

Industries routinely employ well-connected lobbyists to seek favorable legislation and regulations in the nation's capital. But the extent of the connections to the federal government is particularly notable given the relatively small size of the scanner industry, which is dominated by half a dozen specialized businesses with heavy investments in airport and border security technology. On K Street as a whole, by contrast, only about one in three lobbyists has previously worked in government.

Many of the scanner companies are also on pace to spend record amounts of money for lobbying this year on Capitol Hill, where they see potential problems as some lawmakers push for limits on airport-security practices.

[org.whodat]

The whole TSA scanner BS, is just a case of crony capitalism, buying politicians so they can sell their equipment. Frank “senile” Lottenburg has pulled the same crap for Quailcom, trying to make major trucking firms use this commodore computer system for log books.

[umgud]

New TSA attire. This is actually not see-thru, but looks that way.

[pterional]

This is tyranny when you have politicians like John Kerry and others who have direct financial interest in these privately held companies manufacturing these scanners and then forcing the American citizen through them.

[org.whodat]

Yes, and politicians of both parties have been selling their services to K street for years. And they are pissed that the tax papers say they have had enough.

[org.whodat]

"actually not see-thru",

Who are you going to believe me are your own lying eyes. LOL

[BikerJoe]

Yes, and politicians of both parties have been selling their services to K street for years. And they are pissed that the tax papers say they have had enough.

...and how many freepers maintain that K-Street is just "Free Speech"?