House approves electronic ID cards

CNET ^ | February 10, 2005 | Declan McCullagh

[tbird5]

The U.S. House of Representatives approved on Thursday a sweeping set of rules aimed at forcing states to issue all adults federally approved electronic ID cards, including driver's licenses.

Under the rules, federal employees would reject licenses or identity cards that don't comply, which could curb Americans' access to airplanes, trains, national parks, federal courthouses and other areas controlled by the federal government. The bill was approved by a 261-161 vote.

The measure, called the Real ID Act, says that driver's licenses and other ID cards must include a digital photograph, anticounterfeiting features and undefined "machine-readable technology, with defined minimum data elements" that could include a magnetic strip or RFID tag. The Department of Homeland Security would be charged with drafting the details of the regulation.

Republican politicians argued that the new rules were necessary to thwart terrorists, saying that four of the Sept. 11, 2001, hijackers possessed valid state-issued driver's licenses. "When I get on an airplane and someone shows ID, I'd like to be sure they are who they say they are," said Rep. Tom Davis, a Virginia Republican, during a floor debate that started Wednesday

[drt1]

I hear you but, how does having each State determining on it's own, things that pass freely through and between all States, help the situation? States Rights is a valid concern but when the actions of one State directly impact the operation of another, the States need to get together with a coordinated, systematic approach. In this regard the Federal Gov't can serve a role as a facilitator of this needed coordination and cooperation between the States.

Another example of something that has these attributes is voting processes and I applaud efforts to establish National voting standards.

[mitch5501]

Just imagine something that could...

Stop illegals...COOL.
Find crooks on the run...AWESOME.
Locate "deadbeat dads"...RIGHT ON.
Curb the threat of terrorism in the USA...SHWING!

locate old folks who get lost
find lost kids
have medical records on tap
eliminate cash related crimes
eliminate losing or forgetting cards etc etc etc.

It's not the technology that puts us in a precarious position, it's the moral compass of the beaurocrats who wield the power which will determine the outcome.

Spot on.

Imagine the moral compass of someone possesed of the devil himself and what he might do should this sort of technology find it's way into his hands.

makes ya wonder

[Captain Peter Blood]

Well it's amazing how many people are ready to approve this without thinking the whole thing out.
Now what if the House had mandated that we all have a Bar code tattooed on our forearms so that the Government can just scan us, catalog us,etc. or even better we will be mandated to have an electronic chip placed under out skin.
The question is at what point do you say no?
Did everyone miss the part of the RFID chip in the License to track it or did that just pass over your heads.
I think there are better ways with the existing things we have with some refinement.
As Conservatives we should be the ones opposing intrusions like this not supporting them. Smaller Government, well here we are creating yet another bureaucracy and to track it's own citizens even better than we are right now.
I expect this stuff from Liberals rather than Conservatives.
Who wins with this kind of legislation, Terrorists do, by forcing our open society to become more closed and regulated. By trying to protect the rights and freedoms we have, we have to lose more of them to fight the terrorists. Kind on an interesting Conundrum isn't it?

[LauraleeBraswell]

If we had a national ID CARD for voting, we'd pick up another 5 SENATE SEATS and a governorship in Washington! but to your point, I would have agreed with you 20 years ago.

[LauraleeBraswell]

It's not a bar code. It's an ID card.

Really, you're already registered with the government.

[sharktrager]

Perhaps they noticed the word "or" before RFID.

[maine-iac7]

can track you through your credit card purchases

and thru the tracking gadget in most newer cars

[Wolfhound777]

I am not against IDs for voting at all. I think it should be mandatory to prove your identity to vote. But there is no need for RFID technology that will be administered by a federal intelligence agency for a simple ID card. Like you said, we already have three forms of ID now.

[maine-iac7]

I just wish they would use this to stop illegal voting.

that should be mandated - and then see how many more republicans there really are in the country - after all the dead/felon/double/nonexistent voters are out of the picture

[endthematrix]

"HLS will eventually become like the KGB. "

I think when the Fed starts pushing the Northern Command into police and security functions at a local level then America's eyes may start to widen. When we get hit again, all types of written contingencies will be implemented. All the stuff that would not pass a sensible Congress. When you think transportation security, do you think machine gun federal troops checking National ID at a bus stop in Nowhere, USA? Just a matter of time.

[BJungNan]

Is it really so bad? I'm just pissed because Its going to be harder for me to get into a bar.

What is bad is that all this is necessary because no one will CONTROL THE BORDER!!! Instead, we have to put up with this stupid stuff.

[sauropod]

This is not good.

[sauropod]

My wife is right.

You're an idiot.

[o_zarkman44]

If I don't have my "plastic" does that mean I have to go to jail?

Of course, if I am not guilty of a crime I have nothing to worry about. Yeah.....?

[sauropod]

Of course, that requires thinking about consequences.

Most in this country can't do that anymore.

[OKIEDOC]

Sort of reminds me of what the bible said about end times.

Everyone will be forced to take a number to survive or be killed.

666

HM!!!

[sauropod]

W/O a damn strong conservative supreme court to counter-balance the extremists, well, we could be in for a world of hurt.

I'd prefer not to have to rely on the Men in Black to not trample all over my rights as a US citizen...

[sauropod]

Yeah, but Lauralee wants a drinkie-poo.

Can't stop her from getting her Shirley Temple after all...

[OKIEDOC]

Scary

RICO law was supposed to be to combat major crime organizations.

Now the local, state and federal people use it to get new cars for the police force through confiscation.

I have great concerns about how some in law enforcement are over stepping their bounds and lines of authority.