Next up on California’s fight for equality…banning Clear, which lets you skip TSA lines

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A new bill, the first of its kind in the U.S., would ban security screening company Clear from operating at California airports as lawmakers take aim at companies that let consumers pay to pass through security ahead of other travelers.

Sen. Josh Newman, a California Democrat and the sponsor of the legislation, said Clear effectively lets wealthier people skip in front of passengers who have been waiting to be screened by Transportation Security Administration agents.

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"It's a basic equity issue when you see people subscribed to a concierge service being escorted in front of people who have waited a long time to get to the front of TSA line," Newman told CBS MoneyWatch. "Everyone is beaten down by the travel experience, and if Clear escorts a customer in front of you and tells TSA, 'Sorry, I have someone better,' it's really frustrating."

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Newman is undaunted, describing his bill as an effort to improve travel for the majority of passengers.

"It's about dignity in the travel experience of people who don't have money to pay for upsell services," Newman said.

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James Smith of booking site Travel Lingual said the bill at the very least "prompts a necessary dialogue" on how to best balance convenience and equity when it comes to navigating airport security.

"While Clear offers a time-saving solution for travelers willing to pay, concerns about fairness and the exacerbation of socioeconomic disparities cannot be ignored," he said.

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