Politics As Usual
Shining a Light on Power and Policy
Tom Shine covers congressional politics for ABC News.
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Nothing Scares Congress Like an Angry Flier with a Cheap Cell Phone
February 19, 2007 9:43 AM
OK --- I have a fear of flying. I don't do it. Several hundred others didn't do it either last week when a snow, sleet and ice storm trapped them inside planes operated by discounter Jet Blue. Poor quality cell phone pictures taken by angry passengers held hostage followed and now 2 outraged senators, Boxer of California and Snowe of Maine, have introduced something they are calling the "Airline Bill of Rights Act of 2007." Democrat Oberstar has promised hearings on the house side. Of course Congress tried this bill of rights thing once before but ended up capitulating to the airlines who promised to be nice.
While Congress focuses on those who fly, they ignore everyone else including all those people who spent 21 hours stuck in cars and trucks in very frigid weather, part of that 50 mile long mess along Pennsylvania interstates 78, 80, and 81 which were coated in 6 inches of ice. Various accounts say that for most of their ordeal the Pennsylvania Governor had no idea motorists were among those stranded. Poor communications, he said. Poor communications 6 years after 9/11? Apparently all those motorists and truckers will get for their suffering is a James Lee Witt investigation.
And what about all those who lost their power and saw temperatures in their houses dip to 42 as powerful utilities which have no trouble raising their rates each year had plenty of trouble restoring electricity 4 days after the storm? What about an "Electric Consumer Bill of Rights Act of 2007" to protect them?
Since 9/11 it has been all about those who fly. American taxpayers have bailed out the airlines and shelled out billions of dollars for security systems that are routinely penetrated by the GAO and investigative units of the TV and cable networks. At the same time those who ride the much more vulnerable trains and metro to work each day only see a scrawny looking dog and heavily armed guard at selected stations when there is a high profile "homeland security" alert and DHS officials want something for TV crews to take a picture of.
February 19, 2007 | Permalink | User Comments (0)
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