Body Scanner Makers Doubled Lobbying Cash Over 5 Years

USA Today:

The companies with multimillion-dollar contracts to supply American airports with body-scanning machines more than doubled their spending on lobbying in the past five years and hired several high-profile former government officials to advance their causes in Washington, government records show.

L-3 Communications, which has sold $39.7 million worth of the machines to the federal government, spent $4.3 million trying to influence Congress and federal agencies during the first nine months of this year, up from $2.1 million in 2005, lobbying data compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics show. Its lobbyists include Linda Daschle, a former Federal Aviation Administration official.

Read the whole story: USA Today

Comments

[James Croteau]

09:22 AM on 11/25/2010

Just say “I Opt Out”

Health Risks

Backscatter X-ray uses ionizing radation, a known cumulative health hazard, to produce images of passengers bodies. Children, pregnant women, the elderly, and those with defective DNA repair mechanisms are considered to be especially susceptible to the type of DNA damage caused by ionizing radiation. Also at high risk are those who have had, or currently have, skin cancer. Ionizing radiation's effects are cumulative, meaning that each time you are exposed you are adding to your risk of developing cancer.

Web site with info and printable pamphlets

http://dontscan.us/

[gmb007]

12:09 PM on 11/24/2010

WOW. This piece totally nails it.

What the TSA Patdown Searches Are Really About by Robert Freeman
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2010/11/23-5

[James Croteau]

09:27 AM on 11/25/2010

Thanks for the link.

[INVet]

10:26 AM on 11/24/2010

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

4th Amemdment to the Constitution

[Lisa Spurgeon Bullock]

09:13 AM on 11/24/2010

Does the fact that a company doubled its spending on a lobbyist really count as news? Of course they are bribing the government to use body scanners. Profiting off the poor suckers in America is the American dream. I am surprised we don't see more of this all the time. You know companies lobbying for their wire tapping equipment, or for spy equipment for the masses!! That way we can all invade each other's privacy equally. We don't need big brother or a government watching us, we can spy neighbor on neighbor and have at home kits to help do so.

[gmb007]

12:27 AM on 11/24/2010

.....558 US airline fatalities 2001 (incl. 265 on 9/11)

42,196 highway fatalities 2001 (didn't even make the headlines)

Automobiles are still not banned. Drivers and passengers are never run through any security.

But, OMG! We scream about "airport security"!

People, get a damn grip.

You're SO way more likely to die driving to work than getting blown up by some Victoria's Secret Bra bomber, jumbo paperclip bomber, [insert weird bomb du jour here] terrorist bomber.

In fact, there's a really good chance you'll get struck by lightning first.

BAN illegal, abusive TSA body scanners and pat downs!!

I’ll take my chances flying the friendly skies.

...especially since cockpits are now locked.

[INVet]

10:15 AM on 11/24/2010

Plus the weakest link is actually the cargo, baggage handlers and airport employees! They cannot even keep my bags safe from the thiefs they employ. Do I believe for a second that they can keep a bomb off a plane?

[gmb007]

10:28 PM on 11/23/2010

EXCELLENT, up-to-date (non-pofit) site for American flyers!!

Includes latest news, Hotline and Anonymous Tip Line.

http://flyersrights.org/

Please, pass it along, people! We need to help each other. :)

[gmb007]

10:15 PM on 11/23/2010

------> OUTSTANDING commentary, logic and related security site here. Don't miss it.

International security expert Bruce Schneier basically says body scanners and pat downs are worthless, theatrical CRAP.

"Exactly TWO THINGS have made airplane travel safer since 9/11: reinforcing the cockpit door, and convincing passengers they need to fight back. Everything else has been a waste of money. Add screening of checked bags and airport workers and we’re done. Take all the rest of the money and spend it on investigation and intelligence."

A Waste of Money and Time
http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2010/11/22/do-body-scanners-make-us-safer/a-waste-of-money-and-time

Schneier on Security (TONS of up-to-date info, articles, essays, links, archives, etc.)
http://www.schneier.com/

[PhilipB]

11:20 PM on 11/23/2010

Thanks!

[ehorth]

01:29 AM on 11/24/2010

Good links and good to know!

[gmb007]

09:40 PM on 11/23/2010

Like sex, fear sells.

So far, body scanner business is VERY good for Chertoff & Buddies.

Is American free market capitalism ingenious or what?

[1hutch]

07:40 PM on 11/23/2010

Okay here's the deal, guys should dawn their kilts and forget the undies. We need to cooperate with DHS

[georgecarlin1776]

08:59 PM on 11/23/2010

Very informative article. RZST the thugs whose goal is to make the American people the enemy and get rich off it.
http://www.antifascistencyclopedia.com/allposts/graft-and-sleazy-political-opportunism-brought-us-the-porno-scanners

[Edward Standley]

06:45 PM on 11/23/2010

I have nothing good to say about lobbyists and their Congressional leeches, but is anybody here surprised that body scanners started selling really really good after some bombing attempts? People screamed "Keep Me Safe"! Now they scream "Don't Touch Me"! Kind of a Catch-22 dont'cha think?

[bliss infinite]

06:56 PM on 11/23/2010

United Schizophrenics of America. The people don't know what the 'ell they want.

[Mobius314]

07:36 PM on 11/23/2010

Well, is there a way to have additional safety with measures that actually provide it? I see no real inconsistency here. People still wish to be safe but they are skeptical these methods provide it. It's a difficult balance and the price of failure is steep. So far, TSA's response has been layer cake safety. People have a right to question the effectiveness of the methods,

[Edward Standley]

08:21 PM on 11/23/2010

I see your point, but the young guy who tried to detonate his huevos kind of set a precedent. If one more person packs their "package" with explosives and successfully brings down a plane, a whole lotta people would be asking "why didn't the TSA simply pat people down"? The city of New York, and the airlines are still paying out gazillion dollar lawsuits connected to the 2001 hijackings. If there were alternatives that were more effective, I would think those entities (airlines, TSA) subject to lawsuits would gladly use them. They're the ones who would be on the hook for millions.

[Cacey]

06:39 PM on 11/23/2010

The absolute hypocracy of this amazes.  The very same people who were screaming "Keep us safe at any cost" during the last Administration are screming Constitutional rights when the last Administration bought these machines and the current administrations keeps using them. 

[Edward Standley]

06:47 PM on 11/23/2010

I posted above before seeing your post. Nice to know I'm not the only one who feels this way.

[tb91006]

06:34 PM on 11/23/2010

How many terrorists or bombs have come or orginated from a US airport? None! All the bombs or terrorists found with a bomb on airplanes originated outside the US. So all these scanners and fear mongering searches are irrelevant.

[Edward Standley]

08:25 PM on 11/23/2010

So nobody will ever take a bomb onto a plane originating in the U.S.? We have what, 10,000 miles of land/sea border? A determined group could bring any number of people and any amount of equipment into this country. Tens of thousands of frightened farmers come across just our southern border yearly.

[jhink465]

06:28 PM on 11/23/2010

Alll we are seeing is security theater that is costing the taxpayer money, inconvenience and now the humiliation of being frisked or scanned. If a terrorist wants to target aviation, all they have to do is plant a bomb in the cargo bay which isn't screened. If they have a suicide bomber, all they have to do is walk into a terminal with explosives wrapped around their waste, get in the middle of the long lines of people waiting to be screened by the TSA and pull the cord or push the button. Frankly, I would dump all of this BS we are put through at an airport and take my chances that in all likelihood nothing untoward will happen unless an engine catches fire or the landing gear doesn't work properly. Of course their is always a chance birds will be sucked into the jet engine.

[lqw]

06:16 PM on 11/23/2010

Change you can believe in !!
Yes we can legally grope you.....!!
Obama is a ONE term president.

[rougebaisers]

06:12 PM on 11/23/2010

Note to Ed Show. Note to chris Matthews. Grandma and grandpa, little Billy, sweet Sally, cancer patients, nuns, all people with medical implants. NONE OF THESE PEOPLE DESERVE THE ABUSE THEY ARE EXPERIENCING SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY WANT TO FLY.

The system is wrong.

The TSA is wrong.

The president is wrong.

This is not america. This is america. It need not be so.

[RegLib2]

06:19 PM on 11/23/2010

Amen!

[WarriorLemming]

07:17 PM on 11/23/2010

Knock-off the drama queen rant--this IS America the same America of 9/11 and shoe bombers, and underwear bombers. It's the holidays coming up and the people who wish us harm would dearly love blow away our "junk" round Christmas time. I don't think "Grandma and grandpa, little Billy, sweet Sally, cancer patients, nuns, all people with medical implants" would mind a little goosing if they knew it would saves lives--lay off the hyperbole and histrionics, jeez.

[gmb007]

08:10 PM on 11/23/2010

My, why so rude and insulting?

Rougebaisers has displayed no drama queen rants, hyperbole or histrionics.

This is an emotional, highly-charged issue about the invasion of very private personal space.

Do you speak for all 300+ million Americans?

Apparently, you've not been reading enough news reports. A whole lot of people mind VERY much the goosing, including airline pilots.

For the record, I agree 100% with Rougebaisers.