Texas House Bans Offensive Security Pat-Downs

[Mendoza Line]

AUSTIN (AP) - The Texas House passed a bill that would make it a criminal offense for public servants to inappropriately touch travelers during airport security pat-downs.

Approved late Thursday night, the measure makes it illegal for anyone conducting searches to touch “the anus, sexual organ, buttocks, or breast of another person” including through clothing.

It also prohibits searches “that would be offensive to a reasonable person.”

The bill’s chief sponsor is Republican Rep. David Simpson, who said, “this has to do with dignity and travel, and prohibiting indecent, groping searches.”

He believes it will keep Transportation Security Administration officials from treating travelers like criminals, though the measure may be superseded by federal law.

After a brief but raucous debate, lawmakers approved the measure with little opposition — drawing applause from supporters.


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Personally, have been through the full-body scan, and wasn't too thrilled with that, but I definitely don't want the invasive pat-down. I would try to get them to get me a female TSA agent to do it, just to see what happens, but I'd really prefer that every state passes a law like the Texas house just did. And these recent pat-downs of little kids and even infants are just ridiculous. No way I'd let them stick their hands down my kids' pants. If I had kids, of course.

[cptkirk321]

More political posturing. States have no say in Federal Laws which the airports fall under and the Texas legislature knows this, but it sure looks good in the newspaper how they are doing this. This is what makes me so pissed off with politicians they are more interested in scoring some political posturing points than actually doing something productive.

Just would like to remind you that these sick friggen nutbars who would love nothing more than to blow a plane out of the sky would have no problem using children to carry those bombs on them so just remember that cute little child that could be sitting next to you by not screening them as well could be the one that has the bomb material on them to blow you out of the sky.

[cptkirk321]

And this same Texas legislative body is also bitching and complaining about UofT Rick Barnes salary increase because of the mess the educational system is in, in Texas even though taxpayers are not paying his damn salary. Maybe instead of worrying about making political points with this stupid ass pat down they are dealing with how about do something about the mess you have got your state in and stop bitching and complaining about what a coach is making, thought this was a free market system that people wanted, but I guess it really is not.

[Mendoza Line]

Originally Posted by cptkirk321

More political posturing. States have no say in Federal Laws which the airports fall under and the Texas legislature knows this, but it sure looks good in the newspaper how they are doing this. This is what makes me so pissed off with politicians they are more interested in scoring some political posturing points than actually doing something productive.

Just would like to remind you that these sick friggen nutbars who would love nothing more than to blow a plane out of the sky would have no problem using children to carry those bombs on them so just remember that cute little child that could be sitting next to you by not screening them as well could be the one that has the bomb material on them to blow you out of the sky.

Well, I guess the terrorists win, then.

They haven't blown up a plane out of the sky since 1988, yet TSA agents get to stick their hands down kids' pants.

And the 9/11-style attack is nearly impossible now that cockpits are secure.

Chances that feeling children up will ever catch any threatening device or substance: zero.

Car bombs are the most-likely type of attack, but they never really happen, despite being nearly impossible to defend against if these terrorist clowns could ever successfully assemble one.

[cptkirk321]

Unfortunately in a way yes the terrorists have won because of what has happened in the past 10 years the way North America deals with these type of situations have had to change and as much as NA changes the people who are trying to kill us all will also continue to change. So yes with the cockpits now being more secure then they will try to continue to find ways to just blow the plane out of the sky like they have tried to do on a few instances so far in the past 10 years.

But at the end of the day it still doesn't change the fact that this Texas legislature has as much of a chance of changing or enacting this law as me and you do since it is a Federal matter and these clowns in Texas know it but again it is more about political posturing and political points than actually getting somethine done and that is what pisses me off more.


Chances that feeling children up will ever catch any threatening device or substance: zero

I am sure that back on September 10, 2001 people were saying that the chances of pulling off a 9/11 and slamming 2 planes into the WTC, having them collapse and killing 3000 innocent people were: zero as well, but we know they would of lost that bet don't we.

[revnecro1273]

did they do that the same day they voted and passed that dominos is the official state game?

[revnecro1273]

Originally Posted by cptkirk321

More political posturing. States have no say in Federal Laws which the airports fall under and the Texas legislature knows this, but it sure looks good in the newspaper how they are doing this. This is what makes me so pissed off with politicians they are more interested in scoring some political posturing points than actually doing something productive.

Just would like to remind you that these sick friggen nutbars who would love nothing more than to blow a plane out of the sky would have no problem using children to carry those bombs on them so just remember that cute little child that could be sitting next to you by not screening them as well could be the one that has the bomb material on them to blow you out of the sky.

was going to say the same thing...but why do local law enforcement police the airports? of all the countries i have been to and the airports gone through they have federal authorities and military policing airports...but i am always confused by the inconsistencies within the country of usa...one of few countries that does not have an exiting immigration and customs...and a crack down on illegals and terrorism are two issues that the govt stresses...but yet they don't do the obvious and implement exiting immigration...putting it on the airlines (non federal authorities) to police overstays

[cptkirk321]

Originally Posted by revnecro1273

did they do that the same day they voted and passed that dominos is the official state game?

Unfortunately yes, who cares they are hemorraging money right now but lets make sure crap like this gets passed

[revnecro1273]

seems texas is busy these days passing laws

AUSTIN, TX -- Texans who want to catch catfish using only their bare hands would be able to do so legally under legislation approved by the state Senate.

While budget negotiations were teetering on the brink of collapse Thursday, state senators took action to legalize hand fishing, called noodling, in Texas. Right now the fine is $500 for noodling in Texas.

The bill would require "noodlers" to have a fishing license and freshwater fishing stamp.

Enduring joking questions from fellow senators, bill sponsor Sen. Bob Deuell said he's never noodled, but that the bill needed to be passed for the "noodlers of Texas."

The measure was already passed by the House and is headed for Gov. Rick Perry's desk, where his signature would make it law.

[justdonating]

While I don't think the TSA pat downs should be invasive, I'd rather have the security measures than nothing at all. First time someone sticks a plastic pipe bomb inside the blanket with a baby or taped to a kids legs and blows up some shit, people's opinion will change. The TSA will go from public enemy #1 for the pat downs. Don't do them and something happens, public enemy #1 for not protecting citizens........sort of a no win situation...

[revnecro1273]

and they are at it again

Texas to Layoff 100,000 Teachers While Giving Millions to Formula One Racing


Talk to any pretty much any state legislator these days and they'll tell you that they're broke because of the economic downturn, and that's why they have to slash billions from education. While it is true that states coast to coast are hurting, and there are plenty of examples of misplaced funding priorities to be found, I haven't heard one as egregious as Texas' plans to slash education budgets and layoff almost 100,000 teachers, all while agreeing to pay $25 million per year through 2022 to Formula One auto racing.

Investors are "building a 3.4-mile (5.5-kilometer) track to bring the event to Austin" and the $25 million government handout from the state will subsidize the costs Formula One will incur. The office of one of the project's main investors, Clear Channel Communications Inc. co-founder B.J. “Red” McCombs, told Bloomberg News that "Formula One race in Austin next year will spur $300 million of spending" and building the "$242 million track, which has begun, is projected to add 1,300 temporary jobs and pump $400 million into the economy."

What's left out of that rosy scenario is that Formula One racing is known as a sport for the uber wealthy—think the Monaco Grand Prix—and attempts to get it going in other American cities, like Indianapolis and Las Vegas, have been complete failures.

German teacher Ewa Siwak, who teaches at Bowie High School in Austin and is being laid off said she has "to wonder why the state of Texas is all over funding for this racetrack and not the school-funding crisis."

Indeed.

Sure, that $25 million a year won't pay the salaries of all the teachers Texas plans to pink slip, but it could "pay more than 500 teachers an average salary of $48,000." It definitely sounds like there are some screwed up priorities if the state is funding a race track backed by wealthy corporations and individuals instead of education.

[guzzi]

like me noodle to b touched at dullus airport...

[BigFratDaddy]

if people dont like the pat down, then dont fly. there are other means of transportation.

[Pythagoras]

Originally Posted by BigFratDaddy

if people dont like the pat down, then dont fly. there are other means of transportation.

So you'd be in favor of stopping every car on the road ,searching its contents ,and submitting to a full pat down every day on your way to work to make sure you werent carrying a car bomb?

[BigFratDaddy]

Originally Posted by Pythagoras

So you'd be in favor of stopping every car on the road ,searching its contents ,and submitting to a full pat down every day on your way to work to make sure you werent carrying a car bomb?

no because thats not a similar comparison.

they already have the means in place to search and scan each passenger that enters an airport, on the highways they do not.

Id rather have someone graze my junk than be ****ing dead from crashing into a sky scraper.