Originally posted at
http://pauliecannoli.wordpress.com/2007/
02/04/states-challenge-natl-drivers-license/
By LESLIE MILLER, Associated Press Writer
A revolt against a national driver’s license, begun in Maine last month, is quickly spreading to other states.
The Maine Legislature on Jan. 26 overwhelmingly passed a resolution objecting to the Real ID Act of 2005. The federal law sets a national standard for driver’s licenses and requires states to link their record-keeping systems to national databases.
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.
“It’s the whole privacy thing,” said Matt Sundeen, a transportation analyst for the National Conference of State Legislatures. “A lot of legislators are concerned about privacy issues and the cost. It’s an estimated $11 billion implementation cost.”
The law’s supporters say it is needed to prevent terrorists and illegal immigrants from getting fake identification cards.
States will have to comply by May 2008. If they do not, driver’s licenses that fall short of Real ID’s standards cannot be used to board an airplane or enter a federal building or open some bank accounts.
About a dozen states have active legislation against Real ID, including Arizona, Georgia, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Utah and Wyoming.
Missouri state Rep. James Guest, a Republican, formed a coalition of lawmakers from 34 states to file bills that oppose or protest Real ID.
Though most states oppose the law, some such as Indiana and Maryland are looking to comply with Real ID, Sundeen said.
The issue may be moot for states if Congress takes action.
Looks like we even got a break here in Alabama.
http://nallforgovernor.blogspot.com/2007/02/
well-ill-be-damnthey-were-listening.html
LPs in some states are jumping on this.
http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/137-02062007-1294886.html
Less
aynrkey
bostonteapartygoer
Kenn Jacobine
mattdharris
Mike Seebeck
Miche
paulie
Jim Davidson
ponggod
Stuart Richards
Todd Andrew Barnett
Sweet. States need to realize they can tell the federales to go away.
“LPs in some states are jumping on this.”
And the LP’s in many states are missing the boat, afraid of hurting their image and looking too “radical”.
True, they should get over that.
Want to help us with getting them over that BTW?
Nobody’s afraid of looking too “radical,” I’ve not heard any pragmatists yet say we should take this lying down.
Radicals can be pragmatists too. I consider myself both, for instance.
I don’t know that anyone has actually said take this lying down – some people just don’t choose to make this the type of issue they emphasize, is all. Others may just not have thought of making it a big deal.
But the point of this post is to encourage people to make it a big deal in their states, whether they do it through the LP or not. And for those who are LP members to get on their local and state LP to make it a big deal in their state.
http://home.comcast.net/~armyofrage/aor_top.htm
In my opinion, it is not a radical vs. pragmatists issue, however, I believe the real problem is that most state LP groups do not have the volunteer support to stand up against this violation of our rights.
Doesn’t take a whole lot to write a letter to the editor, or your state rep, put ‘em up on your state party site and your email list or web board if you have one, and ask folks who are reading to do the same.
They wouldn’t be working by themselves. LPers are not the only ones pissed bout this.
Even if they were….
It doesn’t have to take a lot of money to get the word out.
There also spot cable targetting
from Doug Craig…
“Hey paulie the website is http://www.spotcable.com
this is a company called NCC. You can cable ads
anywhere in the US here. On the site they have
regional reps. I believe they have about13 districts.
I found this when I used to subscribe to campaign and
election magizine.”
Letters to the editor are one of the most read parts of any newspaper.
for anyone interested in writing letters to the editor or otherwise
contacting media about this:
http://www.mondotimes.com/world/usa.html
More media links, includes local blogs for many towns
http://newslink.org/
“Seven ways to find local blogs”
http://www.personaldemocracy.com/node/1140
The big thing is follow through. We have all the info needed to take
appropriate action here – I hate to sound like Larry the Cable Guy but
let’s “Git R Done”!