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American Morning

House Expected to Vote on Contentious Airline Security Bill

Aired November 01, 2001 - 11:02   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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Let's talk about what's happening on Capitol Hill, and Jonathan Karl watching the debate on airline security. Just about everyone agreeing now that something should be done. Lawmakers in agreement on many things, but there is one sticking point.

Jonathan Karl, again, with us live.

Jonathan, good morning.

JONATHAN KARL, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: And a real drama up here, Bill. I mean, it's been interesting because going into this debate neither side knows how this is going to come out. There vote counters are scratching their heads, saying this could come down to one- or two-vote margin either way.

A very tense battle. The president getting right in the middle of this. As a matter of fact, in about 15 minutes he is scheduled to meet with about a dozen Republican lawmakers, many of them on the fence on this issue, at the White House trying to give some presidential persuasion going into the vote.

We've also learned that the president is calling Democratic lawmakers as well in the hopes that he can convince some Democrats to come over to the Republican version of this bill, although one Democratic lawmaker -- a press secretary for a Democratic lawmaker got a call, telling me that that lawmaker was unconvinced by the president's arguments. Most Democrats seem to go for Democratic version of this bill, which would provide for full federalization of those airport screeners, those baggage screeners at airports, the major airports, across the country; 28,000 of them would become federal employees under the Democratic version of this bill.

And just a few minutes ago the Democratic leader in the House, Dick Gephardt, came out and he said that the advantage to that is also the advantage -- that the Senate has already passed exactly the same bill, so if the House follows suit, passes the Democratic version of the bill, it could go right to the president tonight.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. RICHARD GEPHARDT (D-MO), MINORITY LEADER: Get right to the point, get it to the president and start buying those machines to check every bag, start reinforcing the airline doors -- the airline pilot doors. We can start putting on more marshals. We can start increasing the competence of the security of the X-ray scanners.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KARL: Now although the president is opposed to that Democratic version, he has said that he will sign whatever version of aviation security comes out of Capitol Hill. He will not veto the Democratic version if it ends up passing.

But Republicans are saying the best thing to do here is to give the president the option whether or not to make those baggage screeners federal employees. Give him the option, if he wants, to contract out to private companies who could be more easily hired or fired for performance.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. ROY BLUNT (R), MISSOURI: I wouldn't veto a bill that deals with that -- airline security. But what they'd like to have is the bill that provides the most safety, the most security, and that's what this whole debate is about. It's not about how many federal employees you have; it's about the flexibility of the private sector combined with the stability of public sector rules and supervision for the first time ever in airline travel in the country.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KARL: Now, despite all the partisan wrangling, what may be obscured here is the fact that both the Democratic version and the Republican version are substantially the same on many of the key provisions regarding airline security.

For example, both versions would have -- provide finding to strengthen those cockpit doors. They would also call for more federal air marshals on flights. They would also include a $2.50 passenger fee to help pay for all this. And it would require background checks for flight students. And both bills would also allow pilots to carry firearms, with proper training and authorization.

So a lot of partisan wrangling. And this is a big fight up here right now, Bill. This is the biggest political fight we have seen since September 11 on Capitol Hill. But both sides largely singing the same tune, except for that issue of whether or not those screeners should be federal employees.

HEMMER: A lot of things can change; are we going to get a vote for sure today?

KARL: Well, you -- be careful when you ever say "for sure" on Capitol Hill. But wee are certainly expecting a vote today. But it may be later, it may be around dinnertime, maybe 7:00 or 8:00 tonight.

HEMMER: Got it. Thanks, Jon; appreciate it. Jonathan Karl on Capitol Hill, many thanks there.

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