Several States Seek To Kill Federal 'Real ID' Requirements

FOXNews.com ^ | 2-1-2007 | Kelley Beaucar Vlahos

[7jason]

WASHINGTON — Risking broad penalties for their residents, lawmakers in several states are fighting implementation of the Real ID Act, a federal measure that seeks to prevent non-compliant cardholders from boarding airplanes or entering federal facilities.

Opponents say national standards for drivers' licenses would be a costly creep into the arms of big brother. Supporters say it is intended to protect Americans' from fraud and potentially terror-related crimes.

"We don't want it, we can't afford it, get rid of it," said Montana Democratic state Rep. Brady Wiseman, who authored the bill ordering the state not to participate in the federal program. The bill passed the Montana House of Representatives on Wednesday along with a companion measure, which challenges the Real ID law on constitutional grounds. Democratic Gov. Brian Schweitzer has spoken in favor of Wiseman's bill.

"Out West, people are very protective of their privacy and against an intrusive federal government that wants to collect a lot of data," Wiseman told FOXNews.com before the vote. "There’s a good whiff of a corporate boondoggle around this thing and they (state lawmakers) are finding reasons to reject it. They don't see much benefit to support the cost."

[fireforeffect]

Real ID is a National Standard. Fully administered by the States. It sets standards for your drivers license, the current National ID Card.

What the States and Dems are objecting to is the fact that they must confirm that each individual is who they say they are before issuing the new Drivers License. This is how you catch the illegals (There is a BIG IF in that last sentence).

The new DL is also harder to counterfeit.

As to your second question: Real ID would not have helped. The State Department screwed up there.

[zeugma]

If I remember correctly the 9/11 hijackers had entered the country legally. With RealID would 9/11 have still happened?

Yes. The INS tried to issue them visas years after the fact.

The incompetence of government in anything but destroying everything they touch is astounding.