HEBRON — Despite what he called an impressive tour of security at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, U.S. Rep. Ken Lucas, D-Ky.,on Monday called for the federal government to take over airline passenger screening.

U.S. Rep. Ken Lucas puts personal items into a basket held by Darlo Tanner at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. (Patrick Reddy photo) | ZOOM |

        “I'm usually very fiscally conservative, and while I don't want to throw caution to the winds, we need to spend whatever it takes to make the system secure and make people feel safe enough to fly again,” said Mr. Lucas, whose district includes the airport.

        The possibility of the federal government taking over passenger screening remains in limbo after the Senate last week unanimously passed a $2 billion bill that would make the nation's approximately 28,000 screeners government employees.

        Many Republicans are against the idea, which has yet to come up in the House, saying it would unnecessarily increase the size of the government and create essentially unfireable employees.

        GOP leaders want something closer in line with what President Bush has proposed — direct federal oversight of the private companies currently hired by airlines.

        House Majority Whip Tom DeLay, R-Texas, has said the government should pattern its response on many airports in Europe and Israel, where government workers make up about 10 percent to 25 percent of the security force.

        “I agree that it makes sense for us to have some federal oversight and federal guidelines, but I don't personally believe we gain any additional security by having all the workers who check all the bags federal employees,” said Rep. Steve Chabot, R-Ohio.

        Security lapses at airports could be solved through greater competition between security companies, Mr. Chabot said.

        Mr. Lucas, a resident of Richwood and a former member of the board that oversees the local airport, said he had been told by leaders of the

        GOP-controlled House that the Senate bill won't be considered for at least a week.

        Other Republicans have called for Mr. Bush to bypass the House and put a new system in place by executive order. Mr. Lucas said he thought that was unlikely.

        “My sense is that if we pass it and federalize the system, the president won't stand in its way,” Mr. Lucas said.

        Mr. Lucas also expressed disappointment that an aid package for laid-off airline workers has yet to come up. A provision for such aid was dropped by the Senate last week so the security bill could make it through.

        Mr. Lucas took his tour — which included a trip through the security screening station — as he left for New York City to tour the wreckage of the World Trade Center.

        He said he visited the airport police station, where he saw the facility's video surveillance sys tem. Mr. Lucas, a former Air Force pilot, said the specific number of cameras at the airport was classified, “but it numbers in the hundreds.”

        But while Mr. Lucas was impressed, other members of Congress are not happy with the current state of air security.

        Rep. Ted Strickland, D-Ohio, said he was informed by an attendant that his bag was selected randomly for extra screening before a recent flight from Washington's Dulles Airport. The attendant, he said, told him to take the bag to another location for inspection.

        “Now if I had explosives in my bag, why would I voluntarily take it for screening? I would just come back later when I thought I had a better chance,” said Mr. Strickland of Lucasville, adding that existing security at airports is lax. “It is not safe, in my judgment, to fly.”

        Washington correspondent Derrick DePledge contributed.

Airport tries to cope with parking problems
SPECIAL ATTACK COVERAGE

Bioterror a threat at the doorstep
Anthrax scare wasn't funny to employer
Scare at Sharonville mail center
Scares scramble emergency squads
Muslims fight fear, anger with understanding
Airport security fix up in air
City fire chief seeking money for preparedness
Tall Stacks back in October 2003
Morgue trial jurors deliberate second day
Project aims to remove lead paint
Some schools would lose in budget plan
Commission considers loan fund
Fuller, Luken meet in only radio debate
Norwood's Foust to carry Olympic torch
Obituary: George Helwig was archery expert
State tax increases possible
Tenn. judge nominated for city-based 6th Circuit Court
Annexation attempt may hit a roadblock
Congrats
Good News: Workers give $129K for relief
Indictment in drug case
Local Digest
Traficant cites privilege in seeking evidence suppression
Victims' compensation overhauled
Foal deaths may cost horse industry $336M
Kentucky Digest
New jail may oust agencies
Politics blamed for fund loss
Kentucky quarter draws interest
Rifle barrage hits cruiser