Lipinski to Make Courageous Stand on … Airline Baggage?
In an apparent attempt to lessen his own personal travel frustrations, Cook County’s own U.S. Rep Dan Lipinski (D-3) is set to propose new federal regulations on airline baggage procedures:
The three-term congressman, who grew up on Chicago’s Southwest Side under the flight path of Midway Airport, is seeking to solve some of the continual annoyances he and other air travelers experience through legislation aimed at regulating both checked baggage and carry-on items toted onto airliners.
Because most airlines are now charging fees for passengers to check baggage, he also thinks the carriers should face financial penalties when excessive delays occur in off-loading checked bags to airport baggage carousels.
Because what we need now with the recession is more federal regulations, right? Wrong: if the above passes, it is likely to put yet another burden on the broken airline industry and lead to higher prices for travelers.
Just because Rep. Lipinski gets frustrated when he travels doesn’t mean he needs to literally make a federal case out of it. I mean, what other personal frustrations does Dan have that he might be tempted to regulate?
Since Dan is looking to legislate on sources of travel delays, perhaps he can fine people who take too long to locate their change at toll plazas? Or how about jail time for participants in a gapers block? How about a federal law against state highway construction that takes too long, jams up traffic and goes over-budget?
Rep. Lipinski and his ilk in Congress unfortunately have the “Don’t just stand there — do something!” mentality that too often plagues politicians. That type of mentality leads to our elected officials spending their time regulating everything from foie gras and plastic water bottles (and now airline baggage) instead of doing the work to protect the taxpayers and legislative efficiently and effectively.
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