TSA approves private screeners in Orlanda

I work in the aviation field and I do fly as a perk of my employment, that being said, I believe the biggest reason for the people having problems with the airlines is the TSA, after getting prodded, xrayed and herded like cattle and felt belittled by the heavy handed tactics of the TSA, after getting stuff confiscated, or out right stolen, people board airplanes already in a surly mood so it doesn't take much for anything on the airplane to set people off.  Think about it...you can't lash out at the TSA, they can capriciously decide to not let you board just to prove who has the bigger dick,  so you take it out on the airline employee that works for a private company.  A private company that is responsible for customer service whereas with the TSA customer service is not a factor. they are by God a professional federalized union workforce that contributed money to the democrats so customer service....they will keep you form boarding the airplane....Customer service...?..Yeah right.
    I hope this is a trend that continues.....

Posted at 06:00 AM ET, 06/18/2012

TSA tentatively okays private screeners in Orlando

By Joe Davidson

The Transportation Security Administration has given preliminary approval to a plan that would allow Orlando Sanford International Airport to use private security screeners.
Screeners employed by private companies are already used at 16 airports under the agency’s Screening Partnership Program. Republicans have pressed for greater use of private screeners and welcomed last week’s announcement.
“I hope this opens a new era of reform for TSA operations, not only at Orlando Sanford but across the nation,” said Rep. John L. Mica (R-Fla.), chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. “It’s critical that TSA get out of the business of running a huge bureaucracy and human resources operation and refocus its attention on security, analyzing intelligence, and setting the highest risk-based security standards. TSA needs to focus on going after terrorists — not little old ladies, veterans and children.”
Democrats and the union representing TSA officers, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), have opposed privatization of the workforce that screens people and luggage at the nation’s airports.
In February, AFGE President John Gage told Congress: “The mission of corporations is to make profits from the shareholders and that is in direct conflict with the single focused mission of air travel security for Americans.”
At a House hearing earlier this month, TSA Administrator John Pistole rejected an assertion by Rep. Mike D. Rogers (R-Ala.), chairman of the Homeland Security transportation subcommittee, that TSA “could reduce its ranks by 30 percent to 40 percent and still be able to do the job just as effectively.”
Said Pistole: “No, I don’t agree with that. That’s a huge number.”
TSA said the Orlando plan for private screeners will not become final until the agency approves “a proposal that does ‘not compromise security or detrimentally affect the cost-efficiency or the effectiveness of the screening of passengers or property at the airport.’  There will be no immediate change to operations or the federal workforce” at the airport.
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