Who is to Blame For the Airport Groping Ban Bill Failing? [POLL]

The TSA has been under fire in the United States for the techniques when searching passengers. The State of Texas wanted to make it a crime for a member of the TSA to touch or grope a person's genitalia or private areas during a security screening.

The U.S. Government put pressure on Texas lawmakers and the bill was pulled. Some are blaming Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst. According to the Statesman:

Patrick withdrew House Bill 1937 from Senate consideration late Tuesday after he lost the votes necessary to debate and pass it — a withering of support that he blamed on Dewhurst, who denied it. The federal government had told lawmakers Tuesday that the bill would conflict with federal law.

“Someone who will not stand up to the federal government, you have to ask yourself, is that the kind of person we need in the U.S. Senate?” Patrick said this afternoon, saying the bill is dead.

and...

In a letter delivered to legislative leaders Tuesday, U.S. Attorney John Murphy warned that the legislation, if passed, would “criminalize searches that are required under federal regulations” and would “conflict directly with federal law.”

“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,” Murphy said in the letter, saying the federal government would seek a court order to prevent enforcement of the law if passed.

Until that occurred, “TSA would likely be required to cancel any flight or series of flights for which it could not ensure the safety of the passengers and crew.”