Laid-off aviation workers left out

WASHINGTON -- The Senate yesterday unanimously approved legislation to tighten airport security but refused for a second time to provide assistance to aviation workers -- including those from Boeing -- who will lose their jobs.

Late last night, the Senate also voted to give police broad new wiretapping authority and other tools to pursue terrorists.

The airport bill, a direct descendent of the Sept. 11 attacks on New York and Washington, was designed to protect airports and airplanes and reassure a nervous public that it's safe to fly. It would significantly increase the use of air marshals aboard flights, take steps to fortify cockpit doors, require more anti-hijack training for flight crews and increase surveillance of flight training schools. It also would impose a fee on passengers of $2.50 per flight leg to help pay for all of that.

The bill also calls for "federalizing" airport workers who screen passengers, taking the job away from private contractors.

But to the bitter disappointment of Washington's senators, the Senate rejected a provision to aid aviation and aerospace workers who lost their jobs as a result of attack.

"I'm very disappointed and I'm very concerned about the number of people in our country -- many of whom are in my state -- who will be laid off," said Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash.

Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., said the omission sends the "absolute wrong message to the American people; a message that this body thinks it is more important to help the corporate executives and shareholders of the airline industry than it is to help the American workers."

Murray and Cantwell, along with other Democrats, said they are determined to provide the extra benefits to unemployed aviation workers. The next best opportunity, they said, was the economic stimulus bill that is being drafting. But that legislation, expected to cost $60 billion, is the target for dozens of interest groups and competition for the dollars will be intense, congressional aides said.

Republicans acknowledged that workers deserve help, but they said the aviation security bill was not the proper place. Opponents used the same argument two weeks ago when the Congress quickly adopted a $15 billion rescue package for the airline industry.

Democrats denounced that logic.

"We must not put these workers on hold yet again," said Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D.

Analysts say the airlines, their suppliers and aircraft manufacturers such as Boeing have cut 150,000 jobs since the attack because of sharply reduced air travel and demand for related goods and services.

Boeing is set to deliver today the first layoff notices to workers in its commercial airplane division. The company said it may be forced to cut 30,000 jobs over the next year.

With so many jobs being lost, Sen. Jean Carnahan, D-Mo., offered a package costing $1.9 billion to give laid-off workers an extra 20 to 26 weeks of unemployment compensation beyond the current 26-week limit, at a cost of $900 million. Another $800 million would help them pay for health insurance. The Department of Labor would get $200 million for training.

Carnahan argued that after Congress approved $40 billion in emergency spending and $15 billion to help the airline industry, it was only right to help laid-off aviation workers.

"The economic impact is real, it is immediate and it is devastating," Daschle said in support of including Carnahan's provision.

But others said accepting the Carnahan amendment would open the bill to other peripheral amendments, including a $3 billion package to upgrade Amtrak security and capacity. Sen. Phil Gramm, R-Texas, said that if the worker relief measure went forward, he would try to attach language to open 2,000 acres of Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas drilling.

While the bill had broad support in the Senate, opposition is building in the House. Rep. Tom DeLay of Texas, the House's third-ranked Republican, said he would try to block consideration of a security bill until he gets the votes for legislation that would increase federal supervision over airport screeners but keep them as private employees.

The Senate approved the anti-terrorism legislation 96-1 after it negotiated a compromise with Attorney General John Ashcroft authorizing the use of roaming wiretaps and new subpoena powers against suspected terrorists. Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., cast the dissenting vote. The House is expected to take up its version of the bill today.

P-I reporter Charles Pope can be reached at 202-943-9229 or charliepope@seattlepi.com This report includes information from The Associated Press.