The agency, backed by Democrats in the Senate, wants to increase the security fee everyone pays with a ticket from $2.50 a flight. to $5.00 per one-way ticket. A total of $10.00 would be added to round-trip tickets.
“$10 is kind of pushing it to a limit. I mean I guess it’s only 5 dollars more, but I’m wondering, you know, how that fits in with-they already have a budget,” said passenger Moira Jeweler.
The TSA budget, like many in Washington, is set to be cut. The agency said boosting this fee would help cover the increase price of security like those costly scanners. The fee hasn’t been hiked in 10 years.
That might be because the agency has only been around for 10 years. Which, by the way, is 10 years too long. It should never have been formed as a federal agency. End it, don’t amend it.
By the way, notice which party is helping TSA to more of your money.
They come up with this kind of crap, and yet the only place they can find to cut spending is the military or social security.
Eliminate the TSA, put he airlines and airports in charge of their own security and problem solved.
I guess. But if they do that aren’t the airlines and airports going to charge us “security fees” as well? I guess that would be like paying $5.00 NOT to have my family jewels fondled – assuming, of course, the airports’ security measures are less intrusive than TSA’s. I wonder if paranoia is simply here to stay.
I live near three good-sized airports — San Francisco, San Jose, and Oakland. If I knew that one was less “grope-y” than the others, while just as safe, I’d steer my business there. That’s how markets work.
Instead, we get the national TSA compelling a “one-grope-fits-all” policy.
With all the regular talk of cutting taxes (or not) to stimulate the economy, user fees and what I’ve termed “nuisance taxes” are rarely considered. Just check your latest bill for phone, cable or internet services. It’s likely 20-25% is taxes, fees and assorted surcharges. Travel-related taxes on hotels, flights, etc. are almost as bad. The Feds can’t do much about locally imposed charges, but those national taxes, if eliminated, would not only stimulate commerce, but make them more efficient.
TSA, like every other government agency, will go to any length to avoid budget cuts. I would be willing to bet other agencies will look for ways to increase fees to make up for any funding decreases.
Some places charge a lot more than $10 for that kind of touching.
Yeah, but at least the payment is voluntary and the toucher doesn’t look like Bella Abzug