|
Burson-Marsteller is helping the Aviation Security Assn.
in its bid to thwart the federalization of airport security,
an idea endorsed by a 100-to-zero Senate vote in the aftermath
of the Sept. 11 attacks.
The House by a four-vote margin, however, backed President
Bush, who wants to keep airport security in the hands of the
private sector.
Conferees, according to B-M's Brian Lott, are expected to
hammer out a compromise version of the bills by Thanksgiving.
ASA members are Securicor, Securitas and ICTS, which supply
airport screening personnel.
They contend the best security system is one with strict
federal oversight, but private sector employees. That's a
set-up used in Europe, says ASA.
The group's chief lobbyist Kenneth Quinn, who was Federal
Aviation Administration general counsel, fears nationalizing
the security force "would create immediate chaos in the
system."
He said there was "absolutely no evidence linking the
Sept. 11 hijackings to a breakdown in the security function
itself."
Bill Barbour is chairman of ASA and COO of Securicor's Argenbright
Security unit. It holds 40 percent of the domestic airport
screener market.
Argenbright is "symbolic of many of the industry's woes,"
according to the Associated Press. It pleaded guilty to security
lapses in a Philadelphia federal court in May 2000, was fined
$1.5 million and promised not to rehire or retain employees
whose criminal convictions should have disqualified them from
screener work.
Argenbright, last week, fired three workers at Chicago's
O'Hare International Airport for allegedly allowing a man
carrying knives, a stun gun and tear gas through a security
checkpoint.
The company replaced founder and CEO Frank Argenbright on
Nov. 9 with David Beaton, a former British Army lieutenant
colonel.
Tex. Rep. Tom DeLay, who has lobbied hard against federalization
of airport security, demanded the shake-up because he said
the executive team had lost America's confidence.
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) is leading the charge for federalization.
He has noted that Uncle Sam has not contracted out the work
of Customs Agents, Border Patrol and INS who perform functions
similar to airport screening. "As a matter of national
security, passenger screening can no longer be left to the
private sector," he said.
|
