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BY JESSICA FLY

ANCHOR JIM FLINK

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Texas lawmakers are doing their best to pass a bill that would prohibit ‘enhanced pat downs’ by TSA agents without probable cause during airport security scans

Texas Sen. Dan Patrick: “If you want to touch a person's private parts, if you want to reach into their bra, into their underwear, you must have probable cause in order to do that. And this bill passed unanimously out of the Texas house. I believe we'll pass it through the senate.”

For some this is about inappropriate touching. For others it boils down to a state versus federal debate.

MSNBC Reporter: “After a photo of an 8-month-old got a pat-down this week, they say it is a federal matter not controlled by state law.
Jim Harris: “Every other state in the country could do the same thing, and you have TSA agents that don't know exactly what standard they're supposed to follow.”

TSA agents were not willing to comment on the bill but TSA Public Affairs Officer, Luis Sasanova says they are just doing their job.

Luis Sasanova: “They understand the discomfort that people, that the public feels and they try to set people at ease but at the same time they cannot compromise on their commitment to secure the safety of the traveling public.”

As the bill went to the Texas Senate, WorldNetDaily reports a letter from U.S. Attorney John Murphy was handed to state legislators threatening to make Texas a “no-fly” zone if the bill passed.

"Texas has no authority to regulate federal agents and employees in the performance of their federal duties or to pass a statute that conflicts with federal law."

Republican Senator Dan Patrick, sponsor of the bill pulled the plug after the threat. He voiced his strong opinions against the federal government’s upper hand to the Texas Tribune.

“‘There was a time in this state, there was a time in our history, where we stood up to the federal government and we did not cower to rules and policies that invaded the privacy of Texans.’”

The bill may have reached a roadblock but according to The Lone Star Report there is still a chance it could pass the Senate at a third reading.

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