States challenge nat'l driver's license

AP via Yahoo! ^ | 02/04/07 | LESLIE MILLER

[umgud]

The law's supporters say it is needed to prevent terrorists and illegal immigrants from getting fake identification cards.

This would have been an easier sell if the gov't had said it needed the Real ID to track down and remove all the illegals who have overstayed visas or jumped the border. But, since the gov't isn't doing much to remove these people, I gotta kind of wonder what they really need this ID for.

BTW , I do predict that some day in the not too distant future, we WILL have a national ID.

[sten]

the vast majority of the country doesn't travel regularly more then 30 miles from their home.

(and no.. i have no source to back it up... i had heard it about 10 years ago)

[Afronaut]

Thank you for your clarity:

The Real ID Act was pushed through on this:

H.R.1268 Title: An act making Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Tsunami Relief, for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2005, and for other purposes.

Who would vote no?

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.

The Real ID Act hands the Department of Homeland Security the power to set these standards and determine whether state drivers' licenses and other ID cards pass muster. Only ID cards approved by Homeland Security can be accepted "for any official purpose" by the feds.

What's going to be stored on this ID card? At a minimum: name, birth date, sex, ID number, a digital photograph, address, and a "common machine-readable technology" that Homeland Security will decide on. The card must also sport "physical security features designed to prevent tampering, counterfeiting, or duplication of the document for fraudulent purposes."

Homeland Security is permitted to add additional requirements--such as a fingerprint or retinal scan--on top of those. We won't know for a while what these additional requirements will be.

Wake up!

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

[Afronaut]

The Real ID Act is scheduled to take effect on May 11, 2008, three years after the law passed.

[AntiGuv]

Yes, and one of the little known factoids when it comes to Real ID is whose scheme was morphed into the eventual 2005 Act: Howard Dean's 'smart ID' plan.

[Afronaut]

It has the Blessing Of the Bush Administration also,

Presidents Seal of Approval

Is supported by all of them

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

ping for future.

Is there a states' rights pinglist?

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

So then, does that state have any obligation to pay taxes to the federal government?

[NapkinUser]

My state of Georgia is on the list. After the 2006 election, I'd say Georgia is probably the most conservative state in the U.S. I support anything that may remove this state from another federal power-grab.

[B4Ranch]

And then the State can refuse to contribute to the Feds. I like the idea.

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

What if they actually do agree with the majority?

[unixfox]

I gotta kind of wonder what they really need this ID for.

It's for your own good. Gotta have government controlling every aspect of our lives dontcha know.

Forget about those that don't belong here!

[CedarDave]

Within a week of Maine's action, lawmakers in Georgia, Wyoming, Montana, New Mexico, Vermont and Washington state also balked at Real ID. They are expected soon to pass laws or adopt resolutions declining to participate in the federal identification network.

With New Mexico, national standards will put a crimp in Bill Richardson's issuing drivers licenses to illegal aliens. As of last fall, approximately 33,000 plus had been issued to illegals in NM. This number came out in response to a lawsuit by the NM Republican Party who wanted driver's license records to check against voter registration roles to stop illegals from registering and voting in last fall's election. Of course the Rat judge denied the motion, but it was shocking how many licenses had been issued at that time.

[djf]

My opinion is this:

You are free to believe or want anything whatever. If you think the moon is made of green cheese, hey, somebody get the crackers.
If you think your lawn is just the place for 100 pink flamingos, go for it.

But when YOUR BELIEFS OR DESIRES impose SOME KIND OF OBLIGATION ON ME then you have crossed the line.

In a nutshell, sort of.

[gubamyster]

ping

[calcowgirl]

With New Mexico, national standards will put a crimp in Bill Richardson's issuing drivers licenses to illegal aliens.

Maybe not. California legislators think they found a way around that. Reportedly, the Real ID Act specifically allows states to issue driving licenses to illegal aliens.

This is from the San Francisco Chronicle, May, 2005

The REAL ID Act, signed by President Bush last week, requires states to verify that people who apply for a driver's license are in the country legally.

It also allows states to choose whether to issue driver's licenses to illegal immigrants as long as they have different markings — such as color or design — than a regular license. They also must clearly state that the license cannot be used as an official identification card.

[djf]

cannot be used as an official identification card...

Hey, they said that before. I believe em. Yup.