SB 2017-069: Defund TSA Act (Passed)

[Associate Justice PiT]

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     Sponsor: Scott

     I hereby open the floor for debate.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

This bill was proposed in response to a recent scandal which saw the arrests of a dozen TSA workers for involvement in a massive cocaine smuggling operation in Puerto Rico.  This scandal not only highlights one of numerous ethics concerns raised against the department, but it tops what is a long and growing list of problems in the TSA that the public has seen in recent years.

This article which was published in Good Housekeeping breaks down numerous incidences which call the TSA's credibility into question.  Upon further research and investigation, it became clear to me that the TSA does not serve its intended purpose in protecting the public from terror attacks.  With such a dismal success record in stopping terrorists and a long history of malfeasance and incompetence within the department, we can no longer justify continuing to support this department and its invasive procedures at taxpayer expense.

I urge the Senate to pass this bill.

[LLR]

So now airline passengers won't even have to pass through a metal detector or get their bags scanned? We ought to make some kind of provisions, because otherwise people will just bring weapons and stuff onto planes with no consequences.

Just because they often fail doesn't mean they always fail, and a basic level of safety is most definitely needed.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

So now airline passengers won't even have to pass through a metal detector or get their bags scanned? We ought to make some kind of provisions, because otherwise people will just bring weapons and stuff onto planes with no consequences.

Just because they often fail doesn't mean they always fail, and a basic level of safety is most definitely needed.

I am open to changes that would establish security standards and make it easier for airports to manage their own security, but the TSA is a useless agency.  There is little evidence that the TSA has ever successfully prevented a terror attack, so doing away with the agency would not have any noticeable effect on passenger safety.

[Associate Justice PiT]

     I agree that the TSA is useless and should shuffle off, but like my colleague Senator LLR I am a little uncomfortable replacing it with nothing.

[Anna Komnene]

I am leaning toward LLR and PiT on this one.  I'd like to see some sort of replacement apart from just relying on free market competition.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

What replacement do you have in mind, if not maybe distributing grants to airports to manage their own security?

That's the only solution I think is feasible, because creating a new agency probably wouldn't work here.

[LLR]

What replacement do you have in mind, if not maybe distributing grants to airports to manage their own security?

That's the only solution I think is feasible, because creating a new agency probably wouldn't work here.

Setting aside an amount of money for basic screening - metal detectors, X-ray machines, maybe a few more high-security machines

[Modernity has failed us]

What replacement do you have in mind, if not maybe distributing grants to airports to manage their own security?

That's the only solution I think is feasible, because creating a new agency probably wouldn't work here.

Setting aside an amount of money for basic screening - metal detectors, X-ray machines, maybe a few more high-security machines

It's pretty easy to get this done without having employees of the federal government be paid to essentially grope adults and children.

[Leinad]

Completely in favor of this bill. The TSA is little more than security theater, pointlessly groping people and doing very little to actually help anything at all.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

What replacement do you have in mind, if not maybe distributing grants to airports to manage their own security?

That's the only solution I think is feasible, because creating a new agency probably wouldn't work here.

Setting aside an amount of money for basic screening - metal detectors, X-ray machines, maybe a few more high-security machines

Do we need a GM estimate for this, or is the $7.3 billion already being allocated toward the TSA sufficient?

[Associate Justice PiT]

What replacement do you have in mind, if not maybe distributing grants to airports to manage their own security?

That's the only solution I think is feasible, because creating a new agency probably wouldn't work here.

Setting aside an amount of money for basic screening - metal detectors, X-ray machines, maybe a few more high-security machines

Do we need a GM estimate for this, or is the $7.3 billion already being allocated toward the TSA sufficient?

     That should be plenty towards this end.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

Okay, so here are some changes I've made to the bill.  Hopefully this assuages some people's concerns.

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[Associate Justice PiT]

     Senators have 36 hours to object to this amendment.

[Associate Justice PiT]

     The amendment is adopted.

[Associate Justice PiT]

     If there are no more comments, I will open a final vote in 24 hours.

[Associate Justice PiT]

     The final vote is now open for 72 hours. Please vote aye, nay, or abstain.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

Aye.

[Associate Justice PiT]

     Aye

[LLR]

Abstain

[Anna Komnene]

Aye

[Modernity has failed us]

Aye

[Associate Justice PiT]

     This bill has enough votes to pass. Senators have 24 hours to change their votes.

[Leinad]

Aye

[Associate Justice PiT]

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