Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live Event/Special

Republican Senators Address Anti-Terrorism Legislation

Aired October 09, 2001 - 14:18   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: Quickly, back here in Washington, we move to the Capitol, where the Senate Republican leaders talking to reporters about anti-terror legislation.

(JOINED IN PROGRESS)

SEN. KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON (R), TEXAS: Well, let me just say that I do think we need to pass aviation security this week. We are working with the White House and the House to try to come together with a comprehensive plan that addresses aviation security as a whole and not in a piecemeal way.

I also think it will only be the responsible approach to pay for this in the long term rather than relying on the temporary measures that we see now.

Having flown back and forth for the last three weekends, I can say that the security at airports is phenomenal. And the National Guard is doing a terrific job. It is making a difference in the comfort level. But we need to permanentize that system so that passengers will be able to not only feel safe and secure when they fly, but have some reasonable time frame in which to get through security. And I think when all this settles down, that is what we're all in favor of doing.

Secondly, I do think it's important that we pass the anti- terrorism bill to bring our intelligence capabilities up to the technology that we have in place today.

And I think, if we can do those two things, we will give the president the tools that he needs to move forward with the investigations and the comfort of the American people in flying and the overall effect on our economy.

HUTCHISON: Thank you.

SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: We need to move forward with the legislation. We need to move forward quickly. Our latest negotiations between ourselves and the Democrats entail, perhaps, an agreement to move on the anti- terrorism bill and get it done in a few hours since everybody is in agreement on that package. Meanwhile, continue our negotiations, both with the White House, the House and within the Senate. We all know the areas of contention that remain: the so-called Carnahan amendment, either in its present version or a scaled-down version; the issue of federalization of the work force, whether they should be federal employees or not, or whether the private corporations should continue that oversight; and finally, there is also a less salient issue, and that is how much will be added to the cost of an airline ticket to pay for whatever measures we may take. We're continuing negotiations.

Finally, I would point out that in a meeting between the House leadership yesterday with Alan Greenspan and 20 labor and business leaders, they emphasized the importance of passing an airline security bill so we can restore confidence in the American flying public and, therefore, help our economy recover. So it is very important that we pass this legislation.

QUESTION: Senator McCain, what would you say is the -- the list that you just gave us, the biggest hang-up right now?

MCCAIN: I think they're pretty equal. In the issue of the so- called Carnahan amendment, whether that's added to this legislation or is part of a stimulus package.

And I want to emphasize, we recognize that some of these actions have to be taken for the benefit of unemployed and laid-off workers. We're fully in agreement with that. The question is, do we put it on an airline security bill or part of the stimulus package or some scaled-down version on this package?

The other, of course, is the issue of federalization. There's not as much division here in the Senate as there is, obviously, with the House. We are told that the House leadership is strongly opposed to a federalization, but we're also told they don't have the votes. So that's why there hasn't been movement in the House.

WOODRUFF: Congress back in session today after a Columbus Day break.

And, as you just saw, three Republican leaders of the Senate, John McCain, Kay Bailey Hutchison, Trent Lott all talking about the issues before them.

And just very quickly, when it comes to airline airport security, what we are looking is still a disagreement between Republicans and Democrats: Republicans not wanting to federalize airport security, wanting this to be a more local issue; and also Democrats insisting that there be some sort of federal support for people laid off in the airline industry -- Republicans very much disagreeing on that. You heard Senator McCain saying those are the two main areas of contention.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com