Washington Pols Get Royal Airline Treatment
Here are four words I never thought I’d say: Thank you Delta Airlines.
Without Delta’s Tuesday morning announcement that they were suspending preferential treatment for members of Congress, many of us would never have known that our elected representatives travel like royalty.
“Due to the impact on resources from the longstanding government shutdown, Delta will temporarily suspend specialty services to members of Congress flying Delta,” a spokesperson said in a statement. “Next to safety, Delta’s no. 1 priority is taking care of our people and customers, which has become increasingly difficult in the current environment.”
Any wonder Democrat Senators continue to block funding for the DHS, leading to snarled security lines at major airports?
They’ve never experienced the adrenaline rush that comes with standing in line, clutching a boarding pass and praying to make it to the boarding area before the gate closes.
While these politicians have escorts that allow them to bypass security lines and special reservation desks that allow them to make last-minute flight changes if they miss their connections, the rest of the flying public must arrive hours in advance and take their chances. We schlumps watch helplessly as our favorite toiletries hit the trash because a container exceeded the four-ounce limit. Worse, if we somehow set off a metal detector we get to experience the indignity of pat-downs, full-body scans and gloved TSA agents pawing through the unmentionables in our carry-ons.
Members of Congress sashay through the terminals - sometimes with police escorts - like dukes and duchesses.
I did some checking and it seems our congressional public “servants” - you know the 535 members who routinely work three-or-four-day weeks - also have access to private, free parking at Washington area airports.
Why?
What makes their travel more valuable than ours? Why should they be spared the inconvenience of getting to the airport hours before departure to allow for security delays? Why shouldn’t they pay to park like everyone else?
Travel perks may be about to end. On March 19, Sen. John Cornyn of Texas introduced the “End Special Treatment for Congress at Airports Act.”
This bill would “require Members of Congress to undergo the same Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screening procedures as all other airline passengers and prohibit the use of federal funds to provide U.S. Senators and House members with expedited or preferential access at airport security checkpoints”
“Nobody should be above the rules and regulations imposed on the American people, and a Member pin on your lapel should not give you carte blanche to skip airport screening lines while everyday Americans are forced to patiently wait their turn,” said Cornyn. “I’m proud to introduce this legislation to end the unfair practice of allowing Members of Congress to receive expedited airport security screening, and I urge my colleagues to join me in restoring democracy at the TSA security line.”
The bill passed by unanimous consent.
If the House passes the measure, Washington’s politicians will get to experience the unexpected pitfalls of air travel like everyone else.
That could make them think twice before refusing to pay TSA agents.
