36 states may miss Real ID deadline

[struggle4progress]

By Stateline.org Staff Reports

... The program, created in the aftermath of the 2001 terrorist attacks, requires all states to start issuing more secure driver’s licenses by the end of this year. Residents of states that do not comply with the deadline will not be able to board commercial aircraft or enter federal buildings using their driver’s licenses beginning in January.

In a letter to congressional leadership on Wednesday (Nov. 18), the National Governors Association disclosed that as many as 36 states won’t meet the end-of-year deadline. Another 13 states have thumbed their noses at the federal government by passing laws that prohibit participation in Real ID, which states have long viewed as an unfunded federal mandate that could violate their residents’ privacy. The recession, meanwhile, has ravaged state budgets and is likely to further erode states’ willingness, or their ability, to comply with Real ID.

In their letter, the governors urged Congress to approve a replacement version of Real ID — known as Pass ID — that would give states more time and flexibility to upgrade their driver’s licenses, including the processes used to check applicants’ identities. While legislation creating the replacement program is supported by the Obama administration and cleared the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee in July, it has not yet reached the floor of either chamber ...

http://www.stateline.org/live/details/story?contentId=438447



November 18, 2009

...

Dear Speaker Pelosi, Senator Reid, Senator McConnell, and Representative Boehner:

By December 31, 2009, states must be materially compliant with the REAL ID Act of 2005 (REAL ID) or their citizens will not be able to use their driver’s licenses as identification to board commercial aircraft. Based on a survey of our states, we believe that as many as 36 states will not meet the requirements of REAL ID by the end of the year. To avoid this disruption to our citizens, especially during the holiday travel period, Congress must pass S. 1261, the “Providing for Additional Security in States’ Identification Act” (PASS ID), this year.

Since REAL ID was enacted, states have maintained that its timelines and requirements are unrealistic and constitute a huge unfunded mandate with costs far outpacing federal funding. For these reasons, and as a result of privacy concerns, 13 states have enacted legislation prohibiting full compliance with the requirements of REAL ID, and several others have passed anti-REAL ID resolutions or have similar legislation pending. Without state participation, REAL ID falls far short of its promises, and the uncertainty of its future leaves us less secure.

PASS ID offers better, more secure and less costly standards for driver’s licenses than REAL ID. It would alter REAL ID to allow state innovation in meeting security requirements and reduce costs by eliminating unnecessary requirements that do not increase the security and integrity of driver’s licenses and identification cards. It also addresses privacy concerns by protecting individuals’ personal information and takes the first step toward covering the cost of compliance by authorizing funds for all states to implement the law ...

Sincerely,

Governor James H. Douglas
Governor Joe Manchin III

http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/menuitem.cb6e7818b34088d18a278110501010a0/?vgnextoid=0988fa4b33805210VgnVCM1000005e00100aRCRD

[unhappycamper]

1. Gee, that's a bummer.

The Police State got their biometric passports but didn't get the National ID card.

[marmar]

2. +1

Satisfaction delayed for Big Brother.