O'Malley banks on a Democrat (RealID)

ANNAPOLIS — Gov. Martin O'Malley told lawmakers yesterday he hopes a Democrat will win the presidential election this fall, which will save him from implementing a federal law that allows only U.S. citizens to receive driver's licenses.

"I was very pleased," said Sen. Jennie M. Forehand, Montgomery Democrat, who attended the Women's Legislative Caucus breakfast where Mr. O'Malley made the statement.

Mr. O'Malley, a Democrat, said he is primarily concerned about the cost of the program, known as the Real ID Act, after saying last month he would implement the law by Jan. 1, 2010.

Supporters of the federal program who attended the breakfast said Mr. O'Malley was stalling to dodge the issue.

"We're trying to figure out where he stands on this," said Delegate Jeannie Haddaway, Eastern Shore Republican.

Mrs. Haddaway said she and other members of the women's caucus — which hosts annual breakfasts with Maryland governors — were only somewhat surprised at Mr. O'Malley's announcement.

O'Malley spokesman Rick Abbruzzese said the governor has "never shied away" from the issue.

He also said charges that Mr. O'Malley is stalling are "ridiculous" and said federal regulators only recently released 300 pages of guidelines that state transportation officials were still parsing.

a federal law that allows only U.S. citizens to receive driver's licenses.

Lie! Legal immigrants and (I believe) legal non-immigrant temporary residents can get driver's licenses. About the only people who shouldn't get them are illegals. I wouldn't even mind illegals getting them if it clearly stated their immigration status and they had to make a non-refundable prepayment for insurance (like those requirements would ever be accepted by the illegals).

2 posted on 02/07/2008 11:15:28 AM PST by KarlInOhio (Rattenschadenfreude: joy at a Democrat's pain, especially Hillary's pain caused by Obama.)

RealID is about tracking U.S. citizens...it does nothing to prohibit illegals from getting drivers licenses.

I'd be glad to see it die, but it won't surprise me to see a Democrat president embrace it either.

I haven't posted these in awhile:

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/

Real ID DOES NOT prohibit states from issuing drivers licenses to illegal immigrants (California still debating this)

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

DHS to Outsource Real ID Data to Third Party company

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

Reason - The Beast is Back - "Real I.D." for an all too real world

Is 'mark of the beast' in Real ID Act?

Old foes unite against Real ID (RepublicanAmerican)

'Real ID' Act Could Help ID Thieves

Georgia Senate Balks at National ID Card

Maine Joint Resolution refusing to implement Real ID Act

Idaho Second State To Reject Real ID Act

Montana Governor says "hell no" to Real ID Act

Missouri Objects to Real ID Requirements

Washington passes bill rejecting terms of Real ID

Arkansas urges Congress to "..add Critical Privacy and Civil Liberty Safeguards to the REAL ID Act"

A National ID Bill Masquerading as Immigration Reform (Ron Paul)

National ID Cards Won't Stop Terrorism or Illegal Immigration (Ron Paul)

Mr. O'Malley, a Democrat, said he is primarily concerned about the cost of the program

Uh, huh.

10 posted on 02/08/2008 12:21:13 PM PST by big'ol_freeper (REAGAN: "..party..must represent certain fundamental beliefs [not] compromised..[for] expediency")

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