Bipartisan Group Of California Politicians Attack Airport Efficiency

Envy is not a valid public policy option. It is, and always has been, a mortal sin. A bipartisan gaggle of California politicians seems to have learned neither of these things.

That’s the only fair takeaway from an effort in the state’s Legislature to force:

…third-party vendors like CLEAR to get their own dedicated security lane or lose the ability to operate in California airports. Currently, CLEAR customers pay $189 a year to verify their identities at airport kiosks before being escorted past queued passengers to the front of TSA lines.

In other words, it’s an attempt to ban so-called  “line skipping” at TSA checkpoints. People who go through a CLEAR background check are allowed to get their identities confirmed at airport kiosks. Once they’ve done that, they are taken to the screening area – no waiting in the sometimes endless TSA security line.

This degree of convenience appears to irritate some California pols, who also appear to have plenty of free time on their hands, having solved every single one of the state’s other pressing problems. But really – it’s not about envy, spite, or a grudge of any sort. Honestly:

…[bill sponsor, Democratic Sen. Josh] Newman’s goal is to…spark a policy discussion around what people should expect from a public resource that they can’t avoid — like airport security.

Passengers know full well what they should expect from airport security – a theatrical performance masquerading as security, with a heavy dollop of humiliation, groping, and tedium. Which is exactly why firms like CLEAR were created (and have millions of customers).  

But someone forgot to tell one of the Republican co-sponsors, Sen. Janet Nguyen, who complained about “haves vs. have nots where those who can afford it jump in front of the rest of us.”

Good grief.

One is forced to wonder what other petty indignities the worthies will tackle next–line jumpers at Disneyland. People who make reservations at restaurants? Who gets picked first for the softball team?

The mind boggles at the vast possibilities confronting pols looking to erase the smallest of victories we may win over massive, impersonal, intrusive, bureaucratic systems like the TSA.

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News.

Norman Leahy

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Norman Leahy has written about national and Virginia politics for more than 30 years with outlets ranging from The Washington Post to BearingDrift.com. A consulting writer, editor, recovering think tank executive and campaign operative, Norman lives in Virginia.

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