BARRON'S Online - Market Surveillance for the Financial Elite ______________________________________________________________________ Centura ______________________________________________________________________ President signs aviation bill with clause opposed by labor unions __________________________________________________________________________ Copyright © 1996 Nando.net Copyright © 1996 The Associated Press

WASHINGTON (Oct 9, 1996 11:12 a.m. EDT) -- President Clinton today signed into law an aviation spending bill he cheered for its airline safety and counterterrorism provisions but that angers one of the Democrats' biggest backers: organized labor.

"It will improve the security of air travel, it will carry forward our fight against terrorism," Clinton said. "Americans will not only feel safer, they will be safer."

A: highly doubtful; B: what's that quote about Liberty and Security? I'd comment on the increased searches that, from what I've seen, they'll do no good whatsoever. I was searched on going through the Newark airport, and had a _lot_ of hardback books in my suitcase... which the security drone completely failed to riffle through to see if they were hollowed out with explosives inside. Given the commonness of books as hiding places, this would appear obvious... but what do you expect when people are selected for such jobs by piss tests, "background checks" (e.g., not having any political thoughts in their head other than pro-government ones), and Affirmative Action?

The counterterrorism provisions reflected several recommendations made by the White House Commission on Aviation Safety and Security, created on July 25 by Clinton in the aftermath of the crash of TWA Flight 800 off Long Island.

Speaking at the bill-signing ceremony, Attorney General Janet Reno called the legislation "another stage in our battle to secure our people from the danger of terrorism."

Unfortunately, her retirement due to Parkinson's won't help matters, at least from how the current political situation looks.

Clinton made no mention of the provision in the bill that has upset organized labor.

At least there's that to say for the dammed bill.

Despite the flap over the Federal Express provision, the aviation spending bill won Clinton's approval because of its central features: authorizing $19 billion over two years for airport improvement, maintenance and security.

The security provisions, such as requiring background checks of baggage handlers, are among a host of new actions Clinton has pushed to combat the threat of terrorism.

[...]

Clinton was introduced at the White House ceremony by Doug Smith, who lost his daughter in the Oct. 31, 1994, crash of a commuter plane in Roselawn, Ind., and who is now president of the National Air Disaster Alliance, a family support group.

Smith thanked Clinton for the legislation, which he called "a major step in the healing process for each of us." He called a moment of silence for air disaster victims.

Standard emotional politicking. I have every sympathy with the victims, their families, and their friends (one of whom I know, from the TWA 737 explosion)... but emotion isn't how to decide to pass laws.

The bill also authorizes the government to produce computer "profiles" of passengers to track of travel patterns or other indicators that raise suspicion of a security risk.

Flight lists also could be matched with lists of known terrorists compiled by intelligence and law enforcement agencies. Similar methods have been used in drug interdiction efforts in recent years.

I suspect my family won't be seeing me as much...

Copyright © 1996 Nando.net