WASHINGTON, Oct. 4 (UPI) -- A package of measures that would radically change the way American airports operate has stalled in the Senate over partisan differences, leading Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., to accuse rank-and-file Republican lawmakers Thursday of delaying an important bill.
But Daschle said that he did not blame the GOP leadership for the delay in consideration of the bill, whose authors and sponsors are currently negotiating a mix between federalization of airport security and private contracting under federal guidelines. But after Senate Republicans indicated they would filibuster the bill unless granted specific considerations -- such as a limit to the type of amendments lawmakers could propose -- Daschle was forced to delay sending the bill to the floor.
One argument made against allowing immediate consideration of the bill is the opposition to Democratic proposals to help laid-off airline and aviation workers and a multi-billion dollar plan to bolster the Amtrak railroad system by conservatives. Although Republicans say these are issues worthy of consideration, several appear to want to consider them independently of the airport security issue.
This drew the strongest partisan reaction seen on Capitol Hill since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
"There are, unfortunately, a number of our Republican colleagues who apparently are unwilling to give any help to unemployed airline and airplane manufacture workers," Daschle said, before later adding, "Well, I'll let (the GOP) explain why they don't want to help workers."
Several Senate Republicans have also expressed concern about a proposal by Delaware Democrat Sen. Joe Biden, who wants to include an amendment to spend $3.2 billion in infrastructure and security improvements for Amtrak, the nation's largest passenger rail system. But Daschle also said that the members who want to consider this issue on the floor of the Senate have a good point and should be allowed to propose such a measure.
But ultimately, the biggest fight is between House and Senate conservatives who oppose the proposal to federalize airport security workers. Although it appears that the bipartisan leadership of Congress and the administration has decided to work out an agreement -- either allowing some form of federalization for larger airports, while retaining some discretion for the secretary of Transportation to make decisions about smaller airports -- serious reservations by the more conservative members of both Houses appear to have made such an agreement difficult for the GOP leadership.
Daschle said though he expects to federalize security at the larger airports, e remains flexible on the final plan.
"I think it means that they have to be ultimately government employees, federal employees," he said. "But again, as I said before, we're willing to look at options and find ways to be flexible."
The House and Senate leadership was to meet with transportation Secretary Norman Mineta later Thursday. One Republican Senate staffer said that he expected the administration to offer a compromise during that meeting, but could not provide specific details.
