Chertoff: Fee up in air for Registered Traveler

[rodeodance]

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-09-14-travel-program_x.htm?csp=1

Chertoff: Fee up in air for Registered Traveler
Posted 9/14/2006 11:06 PM ET

By Thomas Frank, USA TODAY

BOSTON — With opposition mounting, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said Thursday that he is "still looking at" how much to charge air travelers for a program that would speed them through airport security.

Chertoff said he supports the idea of making people in the Registered Traveler program "pay their own weight," which could cost up to $200 a year.

"We shouldn't necessarily have the taxpayer pay to subsidize people who want to go through the Registered Traveler program," Chertoff told reporters at Boston's Logan International Airport. "We want to be fair. ... Now exactly what the right amount of money is going to be and how that's going to work, I think, is something we're still looking at."

Chertoff's comments come days after the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) disclosed that it plans to charge travelers $100 to $120 to enroll in Registered Traveler and at least $70 a year for every year after their first in the program. The Homeland Security Department oversees the TSA.

The government costs are in addition to roughly $80 annually that program participants would have to pay to companies operating the program.........

[aquart]

1. What's that called? EXTORTION?

[pnorman]

9. "EXTORTION"?? --- Relax, pal.

It's called "Protection Charges"

pnorman



pnorman

[Eugene]

2. Chertoff's approach is short sighted.

The government already subsidizes transportation and it has has
an interest in a transportation security system that is efficient.
Also, wider traveller uptake of the program would free up TSA
resources to watch for threats. Balancing the books on the backs
of passengers is counterproductive.

[Caretha]

3. Ridiculous

So you think that this process will make us safer? That terrorists can't figure out how to enroll in the "Registered Traveler" program? You think McVeigh wouldn't have been able to enroll? You think that the right Saudi nationals can't be enrolled?

This is just one more step on the way to "Your papers, please" program. Wake-up America, we're almost there. When a woman can't even carry lipstick in her purse when she travels, yet we have the most porous borders, not to mention the millions of un-inspected containers, parcels and mail that arrive each day in this country, something is terribly wrong.

The insanity that has gripped this nation is so unbelievable to me. I don't even recognize my own country anymore.

[saigon68]

4. With this creature in CHARGE the worse is "YET TO COME"

[acmavm]

5. The only thing these guys are good at is figuring ways to screw the

American public.

[wakeme2008]

6. No Problem Chertoff -- Now call it the Special Platinum Traveler Program

:rofl:

[0007]

7. This is what happens when ya don't pay

These boys didn't pay up

[nosillies]

8. This program is in place already at one of my home airports

I don't use it, but I work with many people who do. They're not too worried about the cost, as many of their companies pay it. I don't use it because of privacy issues.

To me, this has nothing to do with security. It's got everything to do with paying a fee to stand in a shorter line. If people want to do that, good for them. Go for it. The more people in Registered Traveler, the fewer people in regular security lines. I've actually gotten through security faster than the RTs before because their line was longer.

NOTE: Joining this program is not a requirement to travel.

[rodeodance]

10. call me paranoid, but soon those without the pass will be watched as

suspicious people.



NOTE: Joining this program is not a requirement to travel.

[nosillies]

12. Could happen!

Let's hope the program stays as unpopular as it has already been, so that there will just be way to many of us non-registereds to watch!

[Divernan]

11. Let's charge the private jet passengers some really big fees too.

Passengers on private jets, i.e., Bush's base, don't have to go through any security checks and can bring on to the airfields and carry on to their planes whatever they damn well please. Charge THEM for the privilege of being excused from any security hassles.

Chertoff wants travelers to "pay their own weight"? Why doesn't he start with billing Bush & Cheney & the GOP for proportional costs for using Air Force One and Two for all their campaign travels. Here's how it would work. Bush flies to state "X", where he spends 15 minutes visiting some federal agency, and the rest of the time (3 hours & 45 minutes)at a private estate at a $5,000 a plate fund-raising dinner. That would work out to the govt.(we taxpayers) footing the bill for 6.25% of the travel costs, and the GOP footing the bill for the other 83.75%. And while they're at it, the GOP should be paying the local police/state police for the extra manpower it takes for all the extra protection demanded by cowards Bush and Cheney to make sure that the taxpayers/voters who have not shelled out $5,000 are kept out of sound and hearing.