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WASHINGTON, Oct.31 - - U.S. Rep. Henry Brown is playing politics with the nation's aviation security, according to a prominent U.S. senator.

The U.S. Senate recently unanimously passed an aviation security bill championed by U.S. Sen. Fritz Hollings (D-S.C.) that would make airline screening personnel become federal employees as a way to better control aviation security. The U.S. House is considering two versions of the bill this week - the Senate version and an alternative backed by the House GOP leadership that allows the president to determine whether screeners should be federal employees.

Hollings, who chairs the powerful Senate Commerce Committee that regulates the aviation industry, "sharply criticized" Brown for failing to back the bipartisan Senate legislation:

"Henry's had a hard time catching on to a lot of things; give him a little time," Hollings said, according to the Oct. 31 issue of The Post and Courier. "He's not thinking of safety, I can tell you that. Tell him to forget about those pledges to downsize government that he made while he was running as a candidate, and tell him to get on to public safety."

Brown responded the Republican Party line: "I just don't think we should dictate to the president the plan to implement airport security. I feel he should have flexibility."

Hollings countered: "We're not looking for flexibility. We're looking for accountability, responsibility and national security."

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"Henry's had a hard time catching on to a lot of things; give him a little time"

-- U.S. Sen. Fritz Hollings on Brown's performance in Congress, Oct. 31, 2001

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