[Infowarrior] - States rebel against Real ID Act

[Richard Forno]

States rebel against Real ID Act
Posted on June 11, 2007 in your rights, privacy and security, laws,
bills, and policy by bean

http://www.lawbean.com/2007/06/11/states-rebel-against-real-id-act/

Four states have passed laws that reject federal rules regarding a
national identification system. This casts serious doubt on the
future of the 2005 Real ID Act that goes into effect in December
2009. New Hampshire and Oklahoma joined Montana and Washington state
in the passage of statutes that refute guidelines set forth in the
Act. However, these actions could eventually lead to drivers licenses
issued in these states to not be accepted as official identification
when boarding airplanes or accessing federal buildings. In addition
to these four states, members of the Idaho legislature intentionally
left out money in the budget to comply with the Act.

The Real ID Act raises serious privacy concerns, but there is
disagreement about whether the Act will actually institute a national
identification card system or not. The new law only sets forth
national standards, but leaves the issuance of cards and the
maintenance of databases in state hands. Some claim that this does
not constitute a true national ID system, and may even forestall the
arrival of national ID. Yet others argue that this is a trivial
distinction, and that the new cards are in fact national ID cards,
thanks to the uniform national standards created by the AAMVA and the
linking of state databases.

The actions by these states are increasingly putting pressure on
Congress and the Department of Homeland Security to change or repeal
the law. The Wisconsin State Journal has an incredibly good analysis
of the mess. They write:
States have rebelled at the $14 billion in costs the act imposes on
states, as well as worries that the new security system will invade
residents¹ privacy and create what amounts to a national ID card.

On Capitol Hill, two bills would repeal the law, one co-sponsored by
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt. However, an
amendment to the immigration bill now being debated in the U.S.
Senate would ratchet up the consequences for states that fail to
comply with Real ID. The Senate¹s proposed immigration law would
require job applicants to verify their citizenship to employers using
a driver¹s license that meets Real ID standards or with a passport.

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     http://www.news.com/
FAQ: How Real ID will affect you

By Declan McCullagh
http://news.com.com/FAQ+How+Real+ID+will+affect+you/
2100-1028_3-5697111.html

Story last modified Fri May 06 14:11:38 PDT 2005




What's all the fuss with the Real ID Act about?
President Bush is expected to sign an $82 billion military spending
bill soon that will, in part, create electronically readable,
federally approved ID cards for Americans. The House of
Representatives overwhelmingly approved the package--which includes
the Real ID Act--on Thursday.

What does that mean for me?
Starting three years from now, if you live or work in the United
States, you'll need a federally approved ID card to travel on an
airplane, open a bank account, collect Social Security payments, or
take advantage of nearly any government service. Practically
speaking, your driver's license likely will have to be reissued to
meet federal standards.

News.context

What's new:
The House of Representatives has approved an $82 billion military
spending bill with an attachment that would mandate electronically
readable ID cards for Americans. President Bush is expected to sign
the bill.
Bottom line:



The Real ID Act would establish what amounts to a national identity
card. State drivers' licenses and other such documents would have to
meet federal ID standards established by the Department of Homeland
Security.