Airport security conferees seek compromise over federalization

In an effort to break the impasse over whether airport security personnel should become federal workers, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, offered a compromise Tuesday to require the busiest 31 airports to use federal screeners exclusively and allow the rest to use private screeners or propose a plan to use local law enforcement.

While many members of the House and Senate conference praised the idea as a good first step toward resolving the most contentious difference between the House and Senate bills, some members said Hutchison's proposal would set up a system in which airports and passengers would be treated differently, depending on geography.

Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., said Hutchison's proposal used an arbitrary standard and said private security is being considered only "because some people don't want a federal force."

"The implication is that we're providing some lesser standard at airports with private screeners," said Rep. Peter DeFazio, D- Ore.

But Hutchison defended her proposal. "I never would intend to have different standards," she said. "I'm only trying to get the ball rolling."

At the conference meeting Tuesday, Hutchison admonished conferees for continuing to snipe at each other rather than moving forward. Hutchison's proposal also would allow any airport to request federal screeners and require all hub airports to rescreen passengers' carry-on bags.

Many members of the conference expressed concern that this would slow passengers' efforts to make connecting flights.

Her proposal also would disqualify any private firm with three or more "significant security violations" during the past two years from serving at any U.S. airport. Hutchison said such firms would include Argenbright, the largest private security firm that has had numerous, highly publicized federal violations in recent years.

Her proposal also would give oversight authority to the Transportation Department and incorporate the House proposal to centralize all transportation security under a transportation security administration. But the conference still appears to disagree whether Transportation or the Justice Department should be in charge.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, House Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Don Young, R-Alaska, said House lawmakers might have a response to Hutchison's offer when the conferees reconvene today.

But Hutchison might not have the only proposal to be discussed.

Before the meeting, Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, a strong advocate of federalizing the security workforce, told reporters she had suggested to Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., that federalization could be implemented over four years, to give workers and travelers time to adjust.

She stressed that members of the conference must resolve their concerns and send a bill to the president this week.

Conferees intend to reconvene today to ratify a series of staff agreements on smaller items reached over the weekend and Tuesday night.

Conferees said they hoped to reach agreement by Thursday and send a bill to both houses Friday for a vote, so a bill will reach the president before the Thanksgiving recess.