Texas' TSA 'Anti-Groping' Bill Passes Both Houses

Last week, Texas House Speaker Joe Straus (R-San Antonio) pledged he wouldn't allow the anti-groping bill to come to the floor for a vote and that it was nothing more than a 'publicity stunt.' Today, the bill has been slightly re-worded and has passed both the House and Senate. As the special legislative session is scheduled to come to an end, both Houses need to reconcile their respective versions of the bill. Perhaps adding to the urgency was the fact that a State Rep. and Texas Public Utilities Commission (PUC) were victims of TSA sexual assault.

The 95 year-old woman who had to remove her adult diaper may have put this one over the top.

Via Reuters:

Legislation to make enhanced airport security pat-downs a crime if they involve touching a passenger's "private" areas was approved by the Texas House and Senate on Monday.

The moves came just days after the measure appeared dead when the House speaker called the provisions "unenforceable" and "an embarrassment to the state of Texas."

By passing the bill, the "Texas Legislature is not only telling the (Transportation Security Administration) to change their policies - we're telling the Obama Administration that we will not be intimidated and we will vigorously defend our Constitutional rights," Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst, who presides over the Senate, said in a statement.

The two chambers passed similar measures as the special legislative session's conclusion on Wednesday approaches.

Straus' about face on this very welcome news and should serve as a testament to a very engaged Texas public.

Texas Tribune has more.