More state governments defy congress and reject Real ID

ars technica ^ | 4/9/2007 | Ryan Paul

[George W. Bush]

More state governments defy congress and reject Real ID

By Ryan Paul | Published: April 09, 2007 - 03:43PM CT

The New Hampshire House of Representatives voted last week to block implementation of the federal government's controversial Real ID act. Since New Hampshire Governor John Lynch does not intend to veto the Real ID rejection bill, it will pass if approved by the state senate. Characterized by New Hampshire Representative Sherman Packard as "the worst piece of blackmail to come out of the federal government," the Real ID Act creates a set of uniform standards for state-issued ID cards, and mandates the construction of a centralized national database to store information on American citizens.

Included in a 2005 military spending bill, the Real ID Act passed with virtually no discussion or debate in the US Congress. Heavily criticized by concerned citizens, civil liberties groups, and state government agencies, the Real ID act is opposed by over 600 organizations including the National Governors Association. Although the Real ID act was originally written as a means of improving identification security, critics argue that the act increases the risk of identity theft without providing any tangible security benefits. To make matters worse, congress vastly underestimated implementation costs and many state governments now fear that Real ID compliance is a financial impossibility. Despite this, state identification cards that don't comply with the act by the December 2009 deadline will not be accepted or considered valid at airports or federal buildings.

Idaho and Maine have already passed bills rejecting implementation of the Real ID act, and similar proposed bills are being evaluated in South Carolina and Arkansas as well as New Hampshire. ACLU state legislative department director Charlie Mitchell says that this is just the beginning of a "tidal wave of rebellion against Real ID." If enough state governments refuse to comply with the requirements of the Real ID act, it is likely that congress will have to reevaluate the entire plan. "Across the nation, local lawmakers from both parties are rejecting the federal government's demand to undermine their constituents privacy and civil liberties with a massive unfunded mandate," says Mitchell. "Congress must revisit the Real ID Act and fix this real mess."

Although the standards established by the Real ID act would make it harder for illegal immigrants to obtain fraudulent identification records, doing so would have little discernible impact on national security. When considering the potential security implications of the Real ID act, it is worth noting that the 9/11 hijackers were all legal residents with proper identification.

Meanwhile, critics worry that by facilitating the creation of a centralized database of citizen records and by requiring state identification cards to include a machine-readable mechanism, the Real ID act provides identity thieves with unprecedented access to private information.

[George W. Bush]

Resistance is rising to RealID. The state legislators seem to be taking cues from one another now. It's hopeful to see so many states making moves on it. A large state like New Jersey really will help block this thing.

[muawiyah]

It'll feel good to be able to get on a plane and know that no one from New Jersey is on board.

That's the upside Fur Shur.

[California Patriot]

Yeah, and when we get hit with another 9-11, a lot of people will have egg on their face. This country isn’t serious about defending itself, and we will reap our reward sooner rather than later. It’s time to focus on things that really matter. And it’s depressing when even many conservative patriots won’t do that. We are asking for it.

[kerryusama04]

My State Rep, Jim Guest (R-MO), has taken a leadership role in fighting this, too.

[Congressman Billybob]

Three years ago, I was invited to speak with a group of state legislators from around the country, on the subject of drivers licenses. I told them then that the current situation could not last. The states have reciprocal rights, a license from any state can be turned into one from any other state. That's how half the terrorists on 9/11 began with NC licenses -- where the process was weakest.

I told the legislators that either they straightened out the situation by raising the minimum standards, or Congress would do it for them. The states continued to dither, and Congress acted.

As for this revolt, it will die in its cradle when Congress cuts all money for highways until the states fall in line. Remember how the Congress forced the issue of the 55 MPH speed limit? It threatened to cut off the money. The states blustered and complained. Then there was a loud sucking sound, and all fell in line.

History is such a good teacher, whenever we pay attention to it. And when we don't, it has ways of capturing our attention. Even the NJ legislature can learn, though there may be blood on the floor before it does. LOL.

Congressman Billybob

Latest article: "From Seventy Springs a Score"

[roofgoat]

PLEASE, an IQ of 1/2 of 10 knows this Real ID Act is a joke.

yeah, more laws on top of more laws that will never be enforced except for the Middle Sap Class.

Bust an illegal imm w/o a REAL ID, slap on the paw and release.

Joe Workstiff w/o a REAL ID, Hard time.

Disgustinging.

[Esther Ruth]

ping?

[Arkinsaw]

As for this revolt, it will die in its cradle when Congress cuts all money for highways until the states fall in line. Remember how the Congress forced the issue of the 55 MPH speed limit? It threatened to cut off the money. The states blustered and complained. Then there was a loud sucking sound, and all fell in line.

Yes, and I remember when conservatives here fought hard against the Federal government taking our money and bribing our state government with it (or using it as a sledgehammer).

But that was before we needed to trade fundamental things for security.

[Congressman Billybob]

The Supreme Court has ruled on this. If Congress puts conditions on its grants of money, the recipients are bound by those conditions. Witness the recent Solomon Amendment decision which held that Yale Law School could not accept federal money while refusing to let military recruiters on campus.

The Grimms Brothers Fairy Tales had it right in the Pied Piper of Hamlin, "He who pays the piper, calls the tune."

John / Billybob

[sig226]

New Jersey actually started this around 1998. They instituted driver's license and identification card requirements specifying several different forms of identification. More than one form of identification was required, such as a birth certificate and an out of state license, and possibly other forms of id. The documents were added based on a point scale. My firearms purchaser identification card counted as one point, even though I went through an FBI fingerprint search to get it. My old New Jersey photo license did not count for any points. I think we had to produce six points. We also had to provide proof of address, such as a lease.

Well, sig 226, isn't it a good thing that New Jersey took the lead in implementing measures to secure the state identification card system to preserve national security?

They did it because too many illegal aliens and suspended drivers had New Jersey driver's licenses. The employees at the state motor vehicle agencies in Prospect Park and Wayne were selling them out the back door.

So basically a bunch of state employees were selling fake ids and the state stuck it to all the honest citizens because they couldn't be bothered to operate an honest government. What the hell, it was New Jersey. ,p> California Patriot, do you really think that people who can get hold of RPGs, who are willing to fly airplanes into buildings, and who found ways to make bombs out of cleanser and nail polish remover will be deterred by this? I don't.

[George W. Bush]

Well, run down to the state’s agency and ask them just to tattoo your forearm. Then you can rush home and cower under the bed, waiting for the nukes to fall.

[George W. Bush]

As for this revolt, it will die in its cradle when Congress cuts all money for highways until the states fall in line. Remember how the Congress forced the issue of the 55 MPH speed limit? It threatened to cut off the money. The states blustered and complained. Then there was a loud sucking sound, and all fell in line.

Actually, the states are more assertive now.

You may recall we beat National ID once before during the Xlinton years. Ron Paul and Senator Shelby won that one for us at the last minute.

It isn't a done deal by any means.

[George W. Bush]

The employees at the state motor vehicle agencies in Prospect Park and Wayne were selling them out the back door.

And despite proof of government employees engaging in criminal acts, they so rarely ever arrest and prosecute one. And, having failed to close the borders and failed to secure the issuing of our current documents, they want to spend tens of billions of dollars and institute and new police-state style internal documents regimen, possibly with military checkpoints to boot.

It's all a nanny-state farce about security. They don't care about security. They care about control of the citizenry (their 'cattle') and information collection.

[traviskicks]

Libertarian ping! To be added or removed from my ping list freepmail me or post a message here.

[383rr]

“Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.”
-Benjamin Franklin

Sorry Mr. Franklin, they’re not listening...

[traviskicks]

that is a good one, I like this one too (even if it doesn’t fit exactly this particular subject... :) :

“[A] State which dwarfs its men, in order that they may be more docile instruments in its hands even for beneficial purposes, will find that with small men no great thing can really be accomplished; and that the perfection of machinery to which it has sacrificed everything, will in the end avail it nothing, for want of the vital power which, in order that the machine might work more smoothly, it has preferred to banish.”
- John Stuart Mill

[bamahead]

Real ID Act - A glimpse into the future of America (YouTube)

Real ID Act Passed - The End Of America

Well, at least the ACLU is getting this one right:
A Real Nightmare - http://www.realnightmare.org/

National ID Party - Republicans betray their federalist principles again(OpinionJournal)

Reason - The Beast is Back - "Real I.D." for an all too real world Maine Joint Resolution refusing to implement Real ID Act

Idaho Second State To Reject Real ID Act

Montana moves to reject Real ID Act

[George W. Bush]

Thanks for those contributions. Especially the YouTube video.

It's encouraging to see the states take action. Maybe Ron Paul and Richard Shelby will try to revive interest in getting rid of this again. Sad when we have so few libertarians and constitutionalists in the Congress.

[bamahead]

Absolutely! I am just amazed at the amount of people here who are all for this thing...unless I’m missing some /s tags. I truly believe these folks must not completely understand it’s very very dark scope. The YouTube vid really gets the point across.

I’ll keep my link list goin’. Just added this story to it.

Thanks for posting!

[George W. Bush]

Absolutely! I am just amazed at the amount of people here who are all for this thing...unless I’m missing some /s tags.

I just hope people have been busy. I remember the early days when every member of FR was a libertarian. Well, maybe people will realize the Constitution is actually good for something the longer Congress is under occupation by the Dims.