Free Republic

Reprinted from NewsMax.com Friday, Jan. 13, 2006 12:01 a.m. ESTStates Face National ID 'Nightmare' An anti-terrorism law creating a national standard for all driver's licenses by 2008 isn't just upsetting civil libertarians and immigration rights activists. State motor vehicle officials nationwide who will have to carry out the Real ID Act say its authors grossly underestimated its logistical, technological and financial demands. In a comprehensive survey obtained by The Associated Press and in follow-up interviews, officials cast doubt on the states' ability to comply with the law on time and fretted that it will be a budget buster. "It is...

The REAL ID Act has many Americans, especially civil libertarians, up in arms. They are concerned that "Big Brother" has crossed the fine line between security and intrusion. While we are all well advised to guard against an ever-intrusive government, it serves no good purpose to denigrate a piece of legislation simply because special interest groups are attempting to persuade us into believing there is something sinister afoot. "We the People" have a responsibility to ascertain the facts about any given issue before we storm the village square, flaming torches in hand. This concept is called civic responsibility and our...

Victory is in sight thanks to your tremendous efforts! The House today passed by a vote of 368-58 the final conference agreement on the Emergency Appropriations Supplemental Act (H.R. 1268) with Rep. Sensenbrenner's (R-WI) REAL ID provisions largely intact. This is a major victory for homeland security and the fight against illegal immigration! These provisions will help keep driver's licenses out of the hands of illegal aliens and the terrorists among them, will close dangerous loopholes in our asylum system, and will improve border security by enabling the completion of the San Diego/Tijuana border fence. Your continuous faxes, emails, phone...

WASHINGTON - Senate negotiators on Monday accepted a House plan to make states verify that driver's license applicants are U.S. citizens or legal immigrants but softened House-proposed changes in asylum laws. The immigration measures are part of a bill to pay for continuing military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Still unresolved was how much more money to spend on border security. Congressional aides, speaking on condition of anonymity, said negotiators are still apart on provisions that would devote $4 million each to a Fire Science Academy in Elko, Nev., and environment cleanup of a former Energy Department site in New...