The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee has unanimously approved President Obama’s latest pick to the lead TSA, John Pistole.
Included on the committee are at least two Republicans who pressed Pistole – currently the deputy director of the FBI – at his confirmation hearing on whether he would support collective bargaining rights for the agency’s 40,000 screeners.
Pistole wouldn’t address the questions directly, saying the bargaining issue is one he’d need to take up with DHS secretary Janet Napolitano, though in response to a question from Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., regarding his position on bargaining rights for FBI personnel, Pistole said he thought it would be inappropriate and would limit workforce flexibility.
Obama’s first pick, Errol Southers, had a hold on his nomination over concerns he would support collective bargaining, then withdrew amid allegations he may have misused a law enforcement database. Obama’s second pick withdrew over questions surrounding his work as a defense contractor. The position has been empty for so long that pressure is intense to get it filled.
