By JIM ABRAMS
Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON - Compromise on legislation to tighten aviation security still eluded the Senate on Tuesday as leaders struggled to find common ground on federalization of airport workers and spending amendments.
Major sticking points were whether the bill should include aid to laid-off airline workers and money for rail security.
Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., said he hoped to pass by the end of this week both the security bill and a package boosting law enforcement powers to fight terrorism. "Both of these bills are urgently needed," Daschle said.
He said he and Republican leader Sen. Trent Lott were trying to agree how to move ahead with the aviation bill. In addition to bringing security-gate screeners into the federal work force, the bill would expand the federal air marshal program and require the Transportation Department to strengthen cockpit doors and enhance anti-hijacking training for flight crews.
The Senate tried to take up the bill last week but has been stalled by several major disputes: Democrats say the current system of using private company screeners, often poorly paid and trained, doesn't work; many Republicans object to creating a new federal bureaucracy.
Some Democrats also are seeking to attach amendments that Republicans say are not relevant and should be dealt with separately. They include aid for the more than 100,000 airline workers laid off since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and a $3 billion measure to boost security on the nation's railways. Another issue is whether the Transportation or Justice department should oversee the enhanced security efforts.
One idea being considered Tuesday was to reduce the size of the worker aid package. Sen. Jean Carnahan, D-Mo., originally sought some $3.1 billion for unemployment compensation, training and health care. An alternative circulated by Lott's office would lower the cost to about $1.9 billion.
Daschle said some kind of worker aid was required for the bill to pass. "I think it is relevant to the terrible tragedy of Sept. 11 that hundreds of thousands of workers are unemployed," the South Dakotan said.
Lott, R-Miss., said he and Daschle were looking for the proper way to help displaced workers and deal with other issues raised by the Sept. 11 terror attacks in New York and Washington. He suggested setting aside the security bill to allow the Senate first to vote on the anti-terrorism package, but Daschle said he was inclined to stay with aviation security until they finish.
The Senate voted 97-0 earlier Tuesday to keep the aviation bill on the floor as they debated how to proceed.
The Senate bill would also create a new deputy secretary of Transportation responsible for the security operations of all modes of transportation; require the Justice Department to conduct background checks on foreign nationals who attempt to get flight training in the United States; and impose a $2.50 tax on one-way air tickets.
Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ernest Hollings, D-S.C., chief sponsor of the Senate bill with Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said that would pay for about $1.5 billion a year in increased security costs.
Senate passage would send the bill to the Republican-controlled House, where some GOP leaders have voiced strong objection to federalizing the approximately 28,000 people involved in airport screening and other security operations.
Under the Senate plan, workers at the nation's 142 largest airports would become federal employees, while smaller airports would have a choice of using state or local law enforcement officers.
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The bill is S. 1447.
On the Net: Senators' Web sites: http://www.senate.gov/senators/index.cfm