Airlines Oppose Paying More for Security LESLIE MILLER Associated Press WASHINGTON - The government wants $435 million more from the airline industry for passenger screening, but the airlines said Wednesday they don't think they should have to pay it. Air Transport Association President James May said the carriers already give the government about $2 billion every year to prevent terrorist attacks. "It's a tax, a new tax, and one we will vigorously oppose," May told reporters. Homeland Security Department spokesman Brian Roehrkasse said the Bush administration simply wants the airlines to pay their fair share for national security. "Since Sept. 11, the federal government has significantly improved aviation security in a very short period of time, with nearly all the costs associated with security improvements being borne by the taxpayers," Roehrkasse said. The Bush administration asked for more than $5 billion for commercial aviation security next year. May said financially struggling airlines can't pass new taxes onto passengers because of intense competition. The $435 million could mean the difference between the industry breaking even and losing money this year, he said. Air carriers now tack a $2.50 security tax onto passenger tickets, which amounts to about $1.6 billion that goes to the government annually. Airlines are also assessed $315 million every year for passenger screening, a responsibility the government assumed from the airlines soon after the Sept. 11 attacks. As part of the law that federalized screening, Congress ordered airlines to reimburse the government the amount that they spent on screening in 2000. The airlines and the government don't agree on how much that was. Office of Management and Budget spokesman Chad Kolton said it's $750 million. "All the budgets since then, including the 2005 budget, have included $750 million in fees based on the information provided by the TSA," Kolton said. The ATA said the $315 million figure was reached after TSA sent questionnaires to all air carriers about how much they spent on security. The airlines were given a four-month reprieve last year from both the passenger security tax and the annual assessment because the war in Iraq was expected to hurt their business. Roger EWROPS