Fergie's Tech Blog

Homeland Security Tech: Big Box Retailers Fight Cargo Screening; White House Opposes Bill

Rhonda Schwartz reports on ABC News' "The Blotter":

Washington DC lobbying groups representing Walmart and other big retail chains, blanketed capital hill with letters this week in a futile last ditch attempt to stop passage of a House bill calling for 100% screening of air and sea cargo which they said would "impose costly mandates on American business."

"They say the price is too high, for them. But the price the passengers on that plane will pay is their lives, because that's the way al-Qaeda could place a bomb on a plane." said Representative Ed Markey (D)sponsor of the amendment which was passed by the new Democratic majority in Congress this week including one third of the Republic members.

But while the business interests lost this round, it appears the Bush White house will join the lobbyists in a fight to prevent the bill from moving forward in the Senate.

posted by Fergie @ 1/12/2007 09:35:00 AM