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December 14, 2005

Is Ted Stevens Even Worse Than the TSA?

Jacob Sullum finds himself defending the TSA against an even bigger idiot. As the New York Times piece he cites explains

Mr. Hawley said that checkpoint screeners were opening one bag in four to look for scissors and small tools spotted on X-rays, and that this was a distraction from identifying greater threats.

"It's not about scissors, it's about bombs," Mr. Hawley testified. "Sorting through thousands of bags a day at two or three minutes apiece to sort out small scissors and tools does not help security. It hurts it."

But Stevens wants to reduce the number of bags going through checkpoints, to make it easier for the TSA to Take Scissors Away:

Mr. Stevens proposed instead that the security agency reduce the number of bags that passengers may carry on board to one from two, giving the screeners fewer items to handle.

But, um, like.. the current rule is only one carryon and a personal item and has been since immediately following 9/11. Ted Stevens wouldn't know that because, as Sullum observes, "when Stevens flies someone else takes care of his bags."

Posted by gleff at December 14, 2005 6:29 PM

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