Ensign to hold up TSA confirmation

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Wednesday, June 23, 2004 | 9:39 a.m.

Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., will continue to block the confirmation of David Stone as the head of the Transportation Security Administration until Ensign is satisfied with security wait times at McCarran International Airport.

The Senate Governmental Affairs Committee was to hold a confirmation hearing today for Stone. Though Ensign does not sit on the committee, he can still hold up the nomination through the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, where he does have a seat, or on the Senate floor, his spokesman said.

The TSA approved 81 additional screeners for the airport in May, including new employees for new security lanes to be opened later this year, bringing McCarran's TSA employee total to 823.

Ensign wants enough screeners to make sure wait times for passengers are short. While he does not have a specific number in mind, he has said he will wait to see how the new lanes work out.