REAL ID in the News
NCSL Press Releases
National News
This archive of news articles about the REAL ID Act is for informational purposes only. Links to the actual articles may not work after they have been posted. If you are interested in a story with a non-working link, please visit the Web site of the newspaper in which it was printed. NCSL does not necessarily endorse the views in any articles linked to from this page.
June 2008
DHS Releases $79 Million In REAL ID Grants; Governors Say More Needed. CQ Homeland Security (6/21, Webber) reported, "Nearly $80 million in grants for state identification card security projects was released Friday by the Homeland Security Department." DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff said in a statement that his agency had "made it more affordable for states to implement Real ID by dramatically cutting costs and providing various and considerable funding options, and we're requesting additional funding next year." David Quam, director of federal relations for the National Governors Association (NGA), said that while "the vast majority of states will at least have some money," with the grants, they "underscore that federal funding is sorely lacking if Real ID is to be implemented. . . . The grants provide only pennies on the dollar if this is to be finished on time."
Missouri To Develop Verification Hub. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch (6/21, Lohman, 278K) reported that Missouri will receive a $17.5 million grant - the biggest state share - after being chosen to develop the 'verification hub' - which would connect department of motor vehicle offices in one state with another state's databases. ... Around the country, the program's requirements will be carried out by whichever state agency issues drivers licenses, said Amy Kudwa, a spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security. She said the new program shouldn't result in any extra delays for people applying for legitimate licenses."
The AP (6/22) also reported on the grant for Missouri, noting that Rep. Jim Guest "has been a vocal opponent of Real ID. 'I would oppose that even if they fund it,' he said Friday. 'I don't think you can put a price on your privacy. This nation is at a crossroads right now, and if we go down the road and lose more freedoms, we'll never get them back.'"
Napolitano Signs Bill Opposing REAL ID. The AP (6/18, Davenport) reports a bill signed Tuesday by Gov. Janet Napolitano made "Arizona the latest state to refuse to implement new 'Real ID' security standards mandated by the federal government for driver's licenses. Napolitano said she signed the bill into law because a lack of adequate federal funding makes Real ID 'just another unfunded federal mandate.' 'My support of the Real ID Act is, and has always been contingent upon adequate federal funding,' Napolitano said in a rare signing letter." However, the governor "said she still wants the Arizona Legislature to authorize a proposed '3-in-1' enhanced driver's license program."
Capitol Media (6/18, Fischer) reports DHS Press Secretary Laura Keehner "acknowledged the money already being provided and in the pipeline will not be enough to cover the cost, estimated at an extra $8 for each driver's license, a figure that ultimately comes out to about $3.9 billion nationwide. But she said the state and its residents will benefit in having a more secure document. Keehner said if Arizona - and the 13 other states that have taken similar action - do not reverse course, it will be the residents who will suffer when the law takes effect as scheduled in 2010."
Real ID, real problem
Thankfully, there is a far better alternative. Recently, the National Conference of State Legislatures issued a call to support repeal of Real ID and passage of replacement legislation. The Identification Security Enhancement Act was introduced this year in the U.S. Senate with bipartisan support. Op-ed in the Baltimore Sun.
Yuma Sun Urges Napolitano To Sign Bill Opposing REAL ID. The Yuma Sun (6/13) editorializes, "The Arizona House of Representatives has joined the State Senate in making it clear it wants nothing to do with the federal government Real ID program. It is a decision that is welcomed by privacy advocates and those of us concerned about the continuing power grabs by the federal government in the name of security." However, "Whether the governor will go along with the Legislature's opposition to the IDs is not yet known. She should sign the law so the federal government will get the message that Arizona won't accept this intrusion into our private lives."
Legislature acts to opt out of REAL ID
The National Conference of State Legislatures' president, state Rep. Donna Stone of Delaware, told a U.S. Senate subcommittee in April that the REAL ID law should be repealed and replaced with a negotiated rulemaking process that would include state lawmakers. AP in Boston Globe.
Montana Unveils New Driver's License. The AP (6/11, Gouras) reports officials in Montana unveiled the state's new driver's license Tuesday, "touting the license's multiple colors, duplicate photos, textured surface, hidden images and an easily noticed change to identify those too young to buy alcohol." Motor Vehicle Division Administrator Dean Roberts "said Montana followed recommendations from a national umbrella group of license administrators, which in turn became many of the standards adopted by the US Department of Homeland Security as part of its Real ID push. Roberts said Montana's early move to secure its license with new identity theft features allowed Montana to tell Homeland Security earlier this year that the state's license was already moving toward enhanced features."
Bill Opposing REAL ID Passes Senate Committee In Louisiana. The Baton Rouge Advocate (6/11, 6A, Chacko, 102K) reports, "Legislation that would direct a state department to ignore a federal mandate requiring a special identification card could end up restricting where Louisiana residents can go. The Senate Committee of Judiciary A approved the legislation without objection Tuesday despite concerns that residents may have to buy passports to travel inside the states and to enter federal buildings." State Rep. Brett Geymann, who sponsored the bill, called REAL ID "an unfunded mandate, requiring states to do the work without providing any money to do it. State Rep. Jonathan Perry, who also spoke in favor of HB715, said the federal act is putting in motion the types of government controls he heard about as a child."
May 2008
FOA Request Reveals Communications Regarding REAL ID In Maine. The AP (5/2, Adams) reports, "Documents released under a freedom of access request reflect frustration with the federal government and a high degree of tension as a deadline closed in for Maine to accept Homeland Security Department demands to tighten its driver's license standards. A 14-inch stack of documents details behind-the-scenes actions by Gov. John Baldacci's office and other state officials in the form of e-mails, handwritten notes, proposed and finished press releases and copies of news stories about Real ID. Additional documents were also being collected." The AP adds that following a letter requesting an extension that Baldacci sent to DHS Assistant Secretary for Policy Stewart Baker, Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap "sarcastically expressed hope for approval in a March 29 e-mail to Baldacci staffers: 'Hopefully Baker didn't stub his toe getting up this morning and is in a good mood.'"
Arizona Legislators Moving On REAL ID Opposition. The AP (5/2) reports, "Arizona legislators are moving to keep the state from complying with new federal security standards for driver's licenses. A bill approved by the House would prohibit Arizona participation in the 'Real ID' program without legislative authorization. A version given preliminary approval by the Senate on Wednesday would flatly prohibit participation. The Senate rejected an attempt to relax the prohibition by barring participation only if the federal government doesn't provide funding."
April 2008
REAL ID Targeted In Senate Hearing. CNET News (4/29, Broache) reported, "Democratic and Republican senators alike on Tuesday once again piled criticism upon forthcoming Real ID requirements, with some renewing calls to repeal the law for which many of them voted years ago." The criticism came during a hearing of the Senate's Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, where Sen. Daniel Akaka "said he will continue to push for passage of the Identification Security Enhancement Act," which "would yank Real ID and replace it with a 'negotiated' rulemaking process that was proposed before Real ID was glued onto an emergency Iraq war spending bill that passed unanimously in 2005." DHS Assistant Secretary for Policy Stewart Baker "endured repeated questions about the cost of the program, particularly from committee Republicans. He said 'hundreds of millions of dollars have been made available' already for Real ID conversion projects, which, under Homeland Security's revised estimates, are expected to cost about $4 billion over the next decade. But a number of senators said they didn't think that funding was sufficient."
KTVQ-TV Billings (4/29, Bond) reported on its website that Sen. Jon Tester warned Tuesday "that taxpayers will end up spending an additional $5. 6 billion in secondary costs including travel to DMV offices and time spent applying for new drivers' licenses. In a prepared statement, Tester said, 'This legal bobbing and weaving has done nothing to improve our homeland security, but the consequences for the states and for individuals are very meaningful. They have no idea whether to go forward with the database construction, to redesign the drivers' licenses and the training of new DMV workers that REAL ID requires.'"
People's Veto Seeks Repeal Of Maine Driver's License Bill. The AP (4/30, Quinn) reports, "Maine Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap said Tuesday his office had received a people's veto application that could launch a referendum drive to overturn newly enacted legislation to tighten standards for getting a Maine driver's license." Such an action would require the submission of "more than 55,000 signatures." Kathleen McGee, who submitted the application, expressed "optimism that organizers will be able to gather enough signatures by July 17 to force a statewide referendum vote."
REAL ID Dispute With States Seen As "Far From Settled. The Christian Science Monitor (4/4, A8, 58K) editorializes, "The REAL ID Act of 2005 is a classic case of lawmakers in Washington telling states what to do, and then making them pay for it (an 'unfunded mandate')." DHS "has granted an extension to states from March 31 of this year until Dec. 31, 2009," punting "the issue to the next administration, leaving the disagreement unresolved." The Monitor asks "whether time, money, and political aggravation could have been avoided by, for instance, using the US passport – a travel document which already has a photo ID – as a national ID. Thirty percent of Americans already have them. In any case, the federal government is deluding itself if it thinks that the extensions have solved this issue. It's far from settled."
The Charleston Post-Courier (4/1) editorializes that the extension is "a win for South Carolina and its residents, particularly those who stood to be inconvenienced at airports if penalties for non-compliance had been imposed." The Post-Courier states, "While South Carolina was among the few states to actually forbid compliance, most, in fact, have expressed concerns about various aspects of REAL ID. The fact that the cost of this unfunded mandate is estimated in the billions of dollars is at the top of most governors' lists. Congress must address those concerns before the next compliance deadline looms."
The AP (4/1, Adams) reports, "The only state that failed to get an extension to Monday's Real ID deadline was given a couple of more days to satisfy federal concerns about driver's license security. Still unanswered was whether Maine residents will be allowed to board airplanes and enter some federal facilities using only their state-issued driver's licenses as of May 11." A letter to Gov. John Baldacci from Stewart Baker, DHS assistant secretary for policy, "noted that other states with laws barring compliance with Real ID have been given extensions by demonstrating they intend to meet the requirements of Real ID 'for their own reasons and technically not in order to implement federal law.'"
March 2008
REAL ID Seen As Latest State-Federal Fight Over "Unfunded" Mandates. The Christian Science Monitor (3/30, pg. 3, Arnoldy) pointed to REAL ID as "the latest case" in which states are rebelling against "unfunded federal mandates." DHS spokeswoman Amy Kudwa said REAL ID "addresses concerns raised by the 9/11 commission about the ability of terrorists to obtain identification." The Monitor added that at time of publishing, "DHS had given all states except Maine and South Carolina more time. In letters to Montana and New Hampshire, the Department explained that it was granting an unrequested extension because the states had taken steps toward adopting stricter license security standards."
Sanford To Announce REAL ID Decision Today. The State (SC) (3/30) reported, "Gov. Mark Sanford on Monday will announce his decision on whether he will ask federal authorities for an extension to comply with new security rules for driver's licenses and other state-issued IDs." If the state "doesn't get an extension, travelers from this state who board airplanes will be subject to extra security."
Allen Calls For REAL ID To Be Repealed. In a Central Maine Morning Sentinel (3/30) op-ed, Rep. Tom Allen wrote that in its current form, Real ID "will force states to implement new standards, new technology and new procedures for processing and approving driver's license applications." According to Allen, REAL ID's "astronomical cost...is not the only concern. Real ID requires that states link their DMV databases with every other state, raising major concerns about both privacy and security risks of a nationwide system." He says that REAL ID should be repealed and replaced "with a system that will work and does not pass the cost along to state taxpayers."
DHS Recognizes Washington's Enhanced Driver's License. The Tacoma (WA) News-Tribune (3/29) reported, "More than 7,000 people have obtained the new enhanced Washington driver license that can be used - instead of a passport - to cross the border into Canada," and thousands more "want one. The state Department of Licensing announced Friday that Washington's new 'super' driver license is now officially recognized by the US Department of Homeland Security as an adequate form of identification for travel into Canada by land or sea." Now Washington licensing officials "are looking to expand the number of offices that can issue the special licenses. The supplemental transportation budget that was signed into law by Gov. Chris Gregoire on Tuesday included money to open three more offices in addition to the 11 that now can issue the enhanced license."
New Hampshire Gets Extension On REAL ID Compliance. In an article used in some form by more than 50 news sources, the AP (3/28, Sullivan) reports, "The Bush administration accepted a compromise from New Hampshire on Thursday that will ensure the state's residents will not be barred from using their driver's licenses to enter federal buildings and board airplanes beginning in May," leaving "only Maine and South Carolina as states that have not struck such an agreement to receive an extension from the Homeland Security Department to implement the post-9/11 law called Real ID. The department is considering a request from Maine that the federal government not penalize state residents for not complying with the law." The AP added that DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff "has offered to phase in the law's requirements over about 10 years. But with President Bush leaving office in January, a decision to move ahead with Chertoff's plan will rest with the next administration."
Baldacci Asks Chertoff to Exempt Maine Travelers From REAL ID Penalizations. The Portland Press Herald (3/26) reports Gov. John Baldacci has written to DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff "asking the federal government not to penalize Maine travelers this spring, based on the state's failure to comply with the Real ID act." The Governor "noted a state law, passed amid privacy and civil rights concerns, that prohibits Maine from complying with the act. But he said the state has made progress in meeting many of the requirements of Real ID, and asked that Mainers not be subjected to extra security or travel delays."
Schweitzer Says He Favors More Security Montana Driver's License. The AP (3/26, Gouras) reports, "Gov. Brian Schweitzer sent a letter to Homeland Security officials this week assuring them that he agrees with the state attorney general about making Montana driver's licenses more secure even though he opposes the federal Real ID program. The governor's staff said the letter was not a conciliatory gesture, nor should it be construed as a change in the governor's stance on the Real ID program." Meanwhile, DHS spokesman Russ Knocke said that the agency is concerned with "results, not sound bites, labels or interpretations on whether someone said uncle. We're pleased that Montana is on the road to more secure licenses. That's what matters for Montanans, and for the rest of the country."
Alexander Will Seek Halt To REAL ID Program. The Hill (3/26, Rushing) reports Sen. Lamar Alexander may be able to use "his new power in the GOP conference" to scrap the REAL ID Act. Despite his concerns when the law was passed in 2005, Alexander "was outnumbered by party colleagues who wanted to stop terrorists from exploiting loose identification laws." However, with his new "leverage" as the third-ranking Republican in the chamber, "Alexander plans to file an amendment to the fiscal 2009 homeland security appropriations bill that would halt the program until the government finds a way to reimburse states for its cost."
Montana stands firm over REAL ID Act. Helena IR (3/22 Dennison) The federal government won’t be penalizing Montana for refusing to comply with the REAL ID Act, state officials said Friday — and Montanans can use their driver’s licenses for identification when they board commercial airplanes.
Three States Approach REAL ID Compliance Deadline Without Extension. USA Today (3/24, 3A, Frank, 2.28M) reports residents of Maine, New Hampshire, and South Carolina "will soon face tougher and longer screening at airport checkpoints if their governors defy a federal law requiring new, more-secure driver's licenses." They "have until March 31 to say whether they plan to comply" with the federal REAL ID law, and DHS spokeswoman Amy Kudwa says the agency is "not bluffing." DHS said late Friday that "it would accept Montana licenses after May 11 even though the state has not sought an extension and has not said it would comply with the law."
Arizona Plan For Voluntary Enhanced ID Faces Hurdles. The Arizona Republic (3/23, Holstege) reports, "Opposition is building in the Arizona Legislature against separate federal and state plans to create secure drivers' licenses, which will be needed to travel across the international border or board domestic flights." Like the REAL ID program, Arizona's plan for a voluntary enhanced ID that "could be used to drive, return from Mexico without a passport and prove employment eligibility under Arizona's employer-sanctions law, "faces hurdles. Real ID lacks funding and political support. The state plan also lacks critical support, with opponents calling it the first step toward a national identification card."
Senators Write Chertoff Calling For REAL ID Deadline To Be Scrapped. The AP (3/13, Gouras) reports, "A group of US senators, including New Hampshire's John Sununu, called a May 11 deadline for compliance with federal Real ID rules 'arbitrary and ineffective,' and asked the Department of Homeland Security to exempt states from it. Homeland Security shot right back," with spokesman Russ Knocke saying, "Perhaps these Senators neglected to read the law that Congress passed, which actually set the date." Sununo was joined by Sens. Olympia Snowe, Max Baucus, Jon Tester, and Daniel Akaka "in sending a letter Wednesday to Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff" asking that DHS either "scrap the deadline or answer their questions about the process." The senators said the DHS "has not taken the steps necessary to implement this deadline effectively." Similar AP articles are being carried by Maine and Montana area news sources with focus on the local senators.
Study Finds REAL ID Changes Save Texas $102 Million. The Houston Chronicle (3/13, Fikac, 524K) reports, "Increased federal security requirements for driver's licenses would cost $107 million in Texas over the next two-year budget period, according to a preliminary estimate given to the state Public Safety Commission on Tuesday. That's about $102 million less than originally estimated, thanks to federal rule changes made in the wake of state concerns. ... There currently is about $87 million in federal money that all states could apply for a share of in order to defray program costs, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety." Though "that's not enough to make a real dent in the cost of added personnel and verification for REAL ID driver's licenses and identification cards," DHS spokeswoman Amy Kudwa "said another $250 million in general homeland security grant money also can be used by states toward implementing the REAL ID program."
Arizona Enhanced License Bill Sparks Privacy Concerns. The Tri-Valley (AZ) Dispatch (3/13, Santa Cruz) reports, "Arizona is one step closer to issuing enhanced driver's licenses, but critics of a bill before the Legislature that authorizes the move say a microchip embedded in the document could hamper citizen privacy and open up opportunities for increased identity theft." The measure "would require ADOT to enter into an agreement with the US Department of Homeland Security to offer the licenses, a move that several states such as Washington and Vermont have already done and states such as Michigan, Texas and California are considering." Meanwhile, "Gov. Janet Napolitano and US Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff signed an agreement in accordance with the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative in December to move forward with a three-in-one driver's license, according to the governor's office."
DHS Warning Of Air Travel Disruptions As Four States Hold Out On REAL ID Extensions. In an article used in some form by more than 100 news sources, the AP (3/4, Barrett) reports that with less than a month to apply for an extension on REAL ID compliance, DHS "officials are pushing recalcitrant states to adopt stricter driver's license standards to end a standoff that could disrupt domestic air travel." To help bring action from states, DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff "warned that any state that does not seek an extension by the end of March will find that, come May, their residents will not be able to use their licenses to board domestic flights. Chertoff's assistant secretary, Stewart Baker, sent letters to several governors Monday reminding them of the looming deadline, and urging the holdouts to seek an extension." Of the four states that have yet to seek an extension, "Maine and Montana insisted Monday they would not seek an extension," while a spokesman for South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford "said he was still considering it." Meanwhile, "New Hampshire passed a law last year prohibiting the state from participating in the Real ID program, and Gov. John Lynch wrote Chertoff last week asking him not to impose the requirements on New Hampshire citizens."
Collins Calls On Baldacci To Seek REAL ID Extension. The Bangor (ME) Daily News (3/1, Ekstrom) reported, "In a letter Friday, Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, urged Gov. John Baldacci to request an extension for the state's complying with the federal Real ID Act, which establishes national standards for state-issued driver's licenses. 'Unless Maine requests this extension, thousands of Maine residents will experience substantial delays at airports and may have difficulty accessing federal buildings,' Collins said in the letter." The Daily News quoted Maine Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap, who said "privacy concerns have played an important role in Maine's opposition to the act. No matter what assurances are given by Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, Dunlap said, 'once you create that concern, Secretary Chertoff saying it's not one doesn't make it not one.'"
Montana Anti-Real ID Bill Complicates Possibility Of Extension. The Bozeman (MT) Daily Chronicle (3/2, Person) reported, "The clock is ticking toward a standoff between state of Montana officials and the federal government over the Real ID Act. In less than three months, Montana drivers' licenses and identification cards may no longer be sufficient proof of identity for people wanting to board a domestic flight, enter a federal building or open a bank account." Thought the state "could ask for an extension," the issue is complicated, "since the Montana Legislature has already passed a law forbidding state compliance with the Real ID Act. State Rep. Brady Wiseman, D-Bozeman, one of the sponsors of the anti-Real ID bill, said he thinks state law prevents Montana Attorney General Mike McGrath from seeking an extension," an assessment that DHS spokeswoman Amy Kudwa agreed with. "'An extension request would be in good faith,' she said Friday. 'There would need to be a stated and real intent to comply.'"
Sanford Unsure Of Whether To Make Extension Request For South Carolina. The Spartanburg (SC) Herald-Journal (3/2, Dalton) reported, "South Carolina residents will need a passport to board a commercial airplane or enter a federal government building beginning May 11 unless Gov. Mark Sanford asks for more time for the state to prepare for the Real ID Act. And no one is sure whether that will happen." Meanwhile, "It's unclear whether South Carolina would be granted an extension since it has passed the law refusing to participate." Sanford spokesman Joel Sawyer said the Governor is "wrestling" with the issue of "whether asking for the extension would send a message that the state intended to comply." DHS spokeswoman Amy Kudwa "said asking for the extension would indeed 'signal future compliance.'"
Delaware Officials Concerned About REAL ID Funding, Privacy. The Wilmington (DE) News Journal (3/2, Harlow) reported, "Across the country, states are balking at the Real ID Act, which will replace current driver's licenses with Department of Homeland Security-approved IDs that everyone in the United States must carry to board a plane, access a federal facility or enter a nuclear power plant. Civil libertarians argue the act violates all kinds of constitutional rights, while more than a dozen states, not including Delaware, have passed or introduced legislation opposing the law, arguing it is an unfunded mandate." Meanwhile, "Delaware officials agree with the concept of more secure licenses but are concerned about lack of funding and privacy issues. On Thursday, state officials filed for an extension, buying time to review the implementation rules that were released at the end of last month."
Pennsylvania Considering REAL ID Impact. The Beaver County (PA) Times (3/2, Bruni) reported, "Boarding a commercial airline, entering a federal courthouse or clocking in at a nuclear power plant could become more secure with a tamper-proof identification card. At least that's the thinking behind the federal Real ID Act, which may be coming soon to a Pennsylvania's driver's licensing center near you." According to Pam Irwin of the Pittsburgh ACLU, "many states, including Pennsylvania, are in the process of introducing legislation that would allow it to opt out of Real ID. On March 13, the state House Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs will hold a public hearing on the Real ID Act at the William Pitt Union Building at the University of Pittsburgh."
February 2008
Political opposites join in REAL ID fight
One of the General Assembly's most conservative members and one of its most liberal have teamed up in a bid to block a federal program they say would put the personal privacy of millions of Americans at risk by creating a national identity card. The Morning Call.
Most states give green light to tamper-proof IDs
Forty-four states are moving ahead to comply with a law requiring more secure driver's licenses, according to the Department of Homeland Security — despite privacy concerns and worry that the new documents will be too expensive. USA Today.
Backlash mounts against REAL ID
Republican and Democratic state lawmakers are teaming up to oppose the federal REAL ID program, claiming it creates a national identity card that poses a threat to personal privacy. Pittsburgh Tribune Review.
Six States Not Yet Compliant With REAL ID Extensions Rules. The Washington Times /UPI (2/18, Waterman) reports all but "six states have complied with federal rules on asking for more time under the Real ID Act to make their driver's licenses more secure and restricted to U.S. citizens or legal residents." The list "of state governments following the process for deadline extensions in the past couple of weeks includes former holdouts like New Jersey and Washington, according to documents posted Friday on the Web by the Department of Homeland Security." New Jersey "filed for an extension after Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff personally called Gov. Jon Corzine, a Democrat, according to one account." Of the six states "that have so far not sought more time, only Delaware was expected to do so by the May deadline, said Brian Zimmer, president of the nonprofit lobby group Coalition for a Secure Driver's License."
REAL ID Opposition Seen In Pennsylvania. The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (2/19, Bumsted) reports, "Republican and Democratic state lawmakers are teaming up to oppose the federal REAL ID program, claiming it creates a national identity card that poses a threat to personal privacy." Meanwhile, "Gov. Ed Rendell's administration is reviewing Homeland Security regulations, and the governor is concerned about the costs of implementing REAL ID, his spokesman Chuck Ardo, said." The state "has until Dec. 31, 2009, to begin complying with REAL ID. States must begin issuing IDs by May 11, 2011. The Department of Homeland Security in recent testimony to the Pennsylvania Legislature insisted REAL ID is not a national ID card, and said the federal government won't have access to any more personal information."
Anchorage Daily News Says REAL ID Goes Too Far. The Anchorage Daily News (2/18) editorialized that state Sen. Bill Wielechowski's assessment that "the federal government's Real ID program will be an intrusion in Alaskans' lives and the start of a surveillance society" represents "the right reaction to a Bush administration that has strayed far from simply protecting Americans and sought more power and less accountability." The Daily News says "Americans have traditionally opposed anything that smacked of a national ID card, for the simple reason that most of what law abiding citizens do and where they go is none of Uncle Sam's business. Let's keep it that way."
North Carolina Paper Says REAL ID Will Be A Hassle At Best. The Shelby (NC) Star (2/18) editorialized that REAL ID will "be a burden to law-abiding motorists. And at worst, it is ripe for abuse and fraud. ... The ACLU says Real ID will become a real nightmare. We think it will prove to be a real hassle. Congress should repeal this act."
January 2008
DHS To Give States More Time On Real ID Compliance.
In an article used in some form by more than 200 news sources, the AP (1/11, Barrett) reports DHS will announce plans for the Real ID program today that will require Americans born after Dec. 1, 1964 "to get more secure driver's licenses in the next six." The program "has been pushed back" from a planned 2008 start date in "hopes of winning over skeptical state officials," but "with more time, more federal help and technical advances, REAL ID still faces stiff opposition from civil liberties groups." DHS now "plans a key deadline in 2011, and then further measures to be enacted three years later, according to congressional staff members who spoke on condition of anonymity because an announcement had not yet been made." The AP notes that Secretary Chertoff "promoted the final rules for REAL ID during a meeting Thursday with an advisory council." Associated Press, January 11, 2008
States Will Get More Time for Secure ID Plan.
The Washington Post (1/11, A3, Hsu, 723K) reports, "DHS revised its ID plan after states and civil libertarians criticized draft regulations, issued last March and setting a 2013 deadline, as unworkable and threatening to Americans' privacy by creating a de facto national ID for 245 million US drivers." Secretary Chertoff said his agency has "'worked very closely with the states in terms of developing a plan that I think will be quite inexpensive, reasonable to implement and produce the results,' recommended by the 9/11 Commission and mandated by Congress, namely more secure identification." Speaking to a department advisory board yesterday, Chertoff said, "False identification facilitates illegal immigration, which I'm hearing again and again is a very big concern for the American people." Washington Post, January 11, 2008
Bush Administration Ready To Release Revised Real ID Regs.
Federal Computer Week (1/11, Bain) reports Chertoff called Real ID "a win-win" yesterday. "Privacy advocates, however, have expressed concerns about the program, particularly about how Real ID-related data will be stored and shared. The American Civil Liberties Union has planned a press conference tomorrow to discuss the new standards." Local TV stations throughout the country are reporting on the planned DHS announcement. Many reports are playing up the controversy over whether the plan will provide a needed terrorist deterrent or a threat to the privacy of Americans. Federal Computer Week, January 11, 2008
Nevada Paper Says Money For Real ID Contract Could Have Been Better Spent.
The Carson City Nevada Appeal (1/11) editorializes, "We should probably feel safer now that the Nevada Board of Examiners has agreed to spend $29.2 million to comply with the federal Real ID Act. But we're too busy computing all of the things the state could have done with that money, like building highways or funding schools, for example." The Appeal says that it supports "the federal government's efforts, but if it's that important they should have funded the cost of the program rather than leaving it up to cash-strapped states to deal with." Carson City Nevada Appeal, January 11, 2008
November 2007
Spitzer dropping his driver’s license plan
Governor Eliot Spitzer is abandoning his plan to issue driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants, saying that opposition is just too overwhelming to move forward with such a policy. The New York Times (Sub. Req'd.), November 14, 2007.
Officials debate implementing ‘Real ID Act’
It is clear most lawmakers representing the area agree the state should not issue driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants. Huron Daily Tribune, November 9, 2007.
Illegal immigrant licensing drives debate
The leading presidential contenders routinely declare their opposition to illegal immigration. But a divide has emerged over a narrower question: Should undocumented immigrants already in the United States be issued driver's licenses? Los Angeles Times, November 1, 2007.
October 2007
Real ID that Spitzer now embraces has been widely criticized Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s plan to provide three kinds of driver’s licenses, two that would meet new federal security regulations and a third that would be available to illegal immigrants, has put New York on pace to be among the first states to adopt the federal identification program known as Real ID. The New York Times, October 29, 2007.
Illegal immigrants are issued ID cards in some places
Illegal immigrants are getting driver's licenses and identification cards in cities and states that are bucking the national trend to take official documents and public benefits away from them. USA Today, October 4, 2007.
August 2007
Feds look at ID for entry
Federal legislation enacting the Real ID program was signed in 2005 as an emergency military spending and tsunami relief bill, which is supposed to create a national identification system by May 11, 2008. Jackson Hole Star Tribune, August 21, 2007.
Federal ID Plan Raises Concerns
Americans may need passports to board domestic flights or to picnic in a national park next year if they live in one of the states defying the federal Real ID Act. CNN.com, August 16, 2007.
A real bad ID law
States are rebelling against the federal government over the Real ID law, which calls for states to develop highly secure drivers licenses and identity cards. Boston Globe, August 13, 2007.
July 2007
Legislators want state to reject ID
The Real ID Act is a real bad idea, according to states that have already passed laws defying the controversial initiative that would establish a national ID system. Charleston Daily Mail, July 3, 2007.
June 2007
Sixth state opposes Real ID Act
New Hampshire on Wednesday rejected the federal Real ID Act as tantamount to requiring a national ID card, joining five other states in opposing it. Los Angeles Times, june 28, 2007.
6 states defy law requiring ID cards
Six state legislatures are defying a federal law requiring new driver's licenses that aim to prevent identity theft, fraud and terrorism. The states have passed laws in the past two months, saying the federal law has a steep cost and invades privacy by requiring 240 million Americans to get highly secure licenses by 2013. USA Today, June 18, 2007.
Capitol to Capitol: Appropriations Update June 18, 2007
How far will Colorado go to stop ID law?
Congress’ decision two years ago to create a de facto national identification card flew below the radar, tucked into a spending bill and barely causing a stir before it was approved. Colorado Springs Gazette, June 18, 2007.
Wisconsin considering anti-Real ID bill
Wisconsin soon may join the roster of states saying "no" to Real ID. A bipartisan bill that would set high performance benchmarks for the federal legislation before the state would comply with it is being circulated for co-sponsors. Capital Times, June 13, 2007.
Four states rebelling at adoption of Real ID Act
Defying Uncle Sam, four states have passed laws refusing to comply with federal rules to make state-issued driver's licenses more secure, casting further doubt on the future of the 2005 Real ID Act. Wisconsin State Journal, June 11, 2007.
May 2007
Senator joins protest of driver's license law
Two states leading a revolt against the Real ID Act have picked up support in the U.S. Senate in their fight to roll back an unprecedented federal overhaul of state driver's licenses. Detroit Free Press, May 17, 2007.
State says Real ID plan will cost $150 million
The Patrick administration says a federal law that would tighten drivers' license regulations would cost the state more than $150 million and overwhelm agencies that would have to process millions of new documents and to verify the identity and immigration status of every Massachusetts driver. Boston Globe (Reg. Req'd.), May 16, 2007.
States' rebellion at Real ID echos in Congress
Two states leading a revolt against the Real ID Act have picked up new firepower in the U.S. Senate in their fight to roll back an unprecedented federal overhaul of state driver's licenses. Stateline.org, May 9, 2007.
Agency affirms mandates for driver's licenses
The Homeland Security Department said Tuesday that it would plow ahead with national standards for driver’s licenses, despite a highly unusual level of activity by state legislatures opposed to the idea, and substantial second thoughts in Congress. New York Times (Reg. Req'd.), May 9, 2007.
An Identity Crisis We Can Ease
The 41 recommendations of the September 11 Commission continue to stand the test of time and remain the framework for policy debate on our national security. That is because they were derived simply and directly from the unanimous nonpartisan findings of the commission investigation, because they were nonpolitical and nonideological, and because they are all achievable in the real world. Washington Post, May 8, 2007.
Checking in on Real ID
A Senate committee today revisits the Real ID Act, which creates a federal standard for state IDs. Most folks agree it's a good idea, but no one wants to foot the expensive bill. Marketplace, May 8, 2007.
April 2007
States find difficulty complying with Real ID Act
The countdown is on. As of today, states have just 379 days to get their driver's licenses in compliance with the Real ID Act of 2005, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures Web site NWI Times, April 30, 2007.
Federal requirements for driver's licenses a costly headache for states
The countdown is on. As of Thursday afternoon the states had just 380 days, 9 hours and 22 minutes to get their driver's licenses in compliance with the Real ID Act of 2005, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures Web site. Medill Reports, April 27, 2007.REAL ID Act hurts Michigan
If you think going to the Secretary of State's office is a pain now, wait until the REAL ID Act takes effect in May of next year. If Michigan complies, it will be required to overhaul its drivers' licenses to meet strict federal guidelines, creating a de facto national ID card. Detroit News, April 12, 2007.
More States Rebel Against Real ID Act
Several states are following in Maine's footsteps in opposing the Real ID Act. Information Week, April 12, 2007.Lawmakers decry federal Real ID Act as move to usurp state's power
One of the stronger statements against federal identification cards is headed to the Senate floor, a bill that would reject the proposed federal Real ID Act altogether. Great Falls Tribune, April 3, 2007.
‘National ID’ is flawed, needs revision
It is fitting, in its way, that the law establishing the first national identification card in American history was passed through an abuse of the government’s power, raising the question of what truly constitutes a threat. Wilkes Barre Citizens Voice, April 2, 2007.
March 2007
Deadline for implementation of REAL ID Act pushed back
In 2005, Congress passed the REAL ID Act, primarily as a tool to use in fighting terrorism. The law requires states to put in place tamper-proof security features on drivers' licenses. The Windsor Journal, March 30, 2007.
Democrats hit for trying to kill alien license bill
The proposal would have brought Maryland in compliance with the federal Real ID Act, which requires drivers to prove they legally live in the United States before being granted a driver's license. However, the House and Senate appear ready to kill the measure. Washington Times, March 22, 2007.
Homeland Security dismisses Real ID privacy worries
Stewart Baker, the department's assistant secretary for policy, said a forthcoming system of uniform national identification cards will not put more personal information into the hands of motor vehicle administrators or result in a massive centralized database that's more susceptible to hackers. CNET News.com, March 21, 2007.
It’s time to dump the Real ID Act
Opposition is building at both state and federal levels to the Real ID Act of 2005, the fatally flawed law that would impose a de facto national identification card in the form of state driver’s licenses and IDs. Opinion in GCN, March 20, 2007.
Collins and Chertoff fight to save the national ID
Bush administration officials and some Republican senators remain undeterred by the mounting opposition among state governments to a national ID measure and are looking to companies and organizations that will benefit from the ID scheme to persuade opponents beyond the Beltway to back down. Fox News, March 13, 2007.
Leticia Van de Putte: If Homeland Security listens to the experts, Real ID will work
Do as we say, not as we do. That's the message from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The San Antonio Express News, March 10, 2007.
Real ID Act's passage was far too hasty
In an unusual display of good judgment, Washington last week postponed by 20 months the deadline for implementation of national driver’s license standards. Lincoln Journal Star, March 5, 2007.
Capitol to Capitol: Real ID Update March 2, 2007
Real ID Act postponed two years
Under siege from states and angry lawmakers, the White House on Thursday moved back a deadline to implement national driver's license standards that critics say would seriously undermine personal privacy and burden states with a hefty bill. The Los Angeles Times, March 2, 2007.
States can delay implementing Real ID
The Bush administration will allow states to seek an 18-month extension for a requirement that all driver licenses meet new heightened federal standards, an announcement that may give Utah some breathing room to change its system. The Salt Lake Tribune, March 2, 2007.
Driver's license wait may get worse
Getting a Tennessee driver's license can mean hours of aggravation. But new federal regulations are coming that could drag the wait out for days or even weeks. The Tennessean, March 2, 2007.
Homeland Security to offer states more time on driver's licenses
Under pressure from lawmakers and governors, the Bush administration is planning to give states more time to adopt uniform driver's licenses. The Homeland Security Department was to issue new rules Thursday giving states that need it an extension past the May 2008 deadline that Congress established two years ago. USA Today, March 1, 2007.
February 2007
States question new driver's license rules
States say the federal government's REAL-ID program, scheduled to begin in May, will make getting a driver's license a nightmare. The law tightens regulations to prevent fraud. Local transportation officials predict even longer lines at the DMV. National Public Radio, February 27, 2007.
Plan for 'Real ID' cards sparks real opposition in Idaho
Idaho may become the latest in a flood of states to oppose a federal law requiring a standardized national driver's license, out of concern over its cost and intrusiveness on personal privacy. Associated Press, via the Jackson Hole Star Tribune, February 19, 2007.
House speaks out against REAL ID Act
The Utah House has unanimously approved a resolution urging Congress to rethink a federal act aimed at bolstering driver's license security. The Deseret News, February 19, 2007.
State senator wants Maryland to oppose federal Real ID law
A state senator is pushing for Maryland to revolt against federal driver's license and identification standards that take effect next year. Hagerstown Herald-Mail, February 16, 2007.
State may join Real ID protest
Maryland's drivers could see the cost of licenses jump from $45 to $195 under a federal law setting up a nationalized identification system. In response, state lawmakers are considering joining a national protest of state legislatures pleading for changes to the federal Real ID Act. Associated Press via Salisbury (MD) Daily Times, February 16, 2007.
Plan for 'Real ID' cards sparks real opposition in Idaho
Idaho may become the latest in a flood of states to oppose a federal law requiring a standardized national driver's license, out of concern over its cost and intrusiveness on personal privacy. Associated Press via Casper Star Tribune, February 15, 2007.
Utah House panel backs Real ID Act resolution
resolution urging Congress to reconsider the Real ID Act got a unanimous nod from a House committee and will be placed on the House's consent calendar for a vote. The Deseret News, February 14, 2007.
Panel critical of Real ID Act
Civil liberties advocates and security experts said Tuesday that implementing a federal act ordering states to standardize driver's licenses would be unfeasible, violate the privacy of law-abiding Americans and cost billions of dollars. The Spokesman Review, February 14, 2007.
The growing revolt against a national drivers license
Somewhat under the radar, a revolt against the “Real ID,” or national driver's license, legislation passed by Congress in 2005 is brewing at the state government level. This is a healthy development that should be encouraged, and which California would do well to join. Orange County Register via Victorville Daily Press, February 12, 2007.
Congress should repeal Real ID drivers license mandate
The Real ID Act was a bad idea when Congress enacted it in 2005, and it still is. The law's advocates said that it would improve national security by requiring national standards for driver's licenses and denying undocumented immigrants such licenses. The reverse is true. The law hampers law enforcement by narrowing the national database of licenses and making drivers more vulnerable to identity theft. A growing number of states rightly are chafing against this unfunded mandate and its unwelcome side effects. McClatchy-Tribune News Service via Fort Wayne News-Sentinel, February 12, 2007.State questions Real ID process
With a little more than a year to go before all Georgians are supposed to get new federally approved driver's licenses, the state is not budgeting for the millions of dollars expected to be needed for the change. Florida Times Union, February 12, 2007.
Resolution would seek changes in the Real ID Act
A resolution in the state Legislature demands that the U.S. Congress act to make changes to a federal law that would establish national standards for drivers’ licenses. Daily Local (PA), February 12, 2007.
Collins to introduce a bill to delay Real ID
U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, who represents the state that’s leading the rebellion against a national driver’s license, said Friday she will try to delay implementation of the program. Associated Press via Bangor Daily News, February 12, 2007.
Opinion: A loser for states, national security
The Real ID Act was a bad idea when Congress enacted it in 2005, and it still is. Miami Herald, February 9, 2007.
States Challenge Nat'l Driver's License
A revolt against a national driver's license, begun in Maine last month, is quickly spreading to other states. Washington Post, February 4, 2007.
Resistance rises to US law that requires stricter ID standards
States from Maine to Montana are rebelling against a federal law meant to make driver's licenses a definitive form of identification, an issue that cuts across flash points of homeland security, civil liberties, and illegal immigration. Christian Science Monitor, February 9, 2007.
House says no to federal ID card plan
Two bills that would make Montana the first state to reject the federal Real ID law, which requires states to standardize driver's licenses, received overwhelming support in the House of Representatives Wednesday. Great Falls Tribune, February 1, 2007.
January 2007
Maine lawmakers reject national identification
Maine on Thursday became the first state to officially decline to comply with the Real ID Act of 2005, the federal law that critics say lays the foundation for creation of a national identity card. Los Angeles Times, January 26, 2007.
'Real ID' licenses a really bad idea
Recall the last time you went to a Bureau of Motor Vehicles office to renew your driver's license or get a new one. Think about how much time you spent waiting your turn, line, filling out forms and jumping through bureaucratic hoops. Now take that time and double it. Then repeat the last step. Portland Press Herald, January 25, 2007.
Privacy-busting national ID won’t make us more secure
A 2005 federal law requires states to issue standardized, machine-readable drivers licenses by May of 2008, in effect converting them to a national identification card that will be required to enter a federal building or fly on an airplane. The Department of Homeland Security wants to hire private data aggregators to ensure that applicants really are who they claim to be. The Examiner, January 24, 2007.
Senate bill aims to repeal 'Real ID' law
Faced with having to pay $500 million for federally mandated driver's licenses aimed at identifying illegal immigrants, California officials are looking to the new Democratic Congress for financial relief. Washington Bureau, January 22, 2007.
The latest threat to freedom is a national ID program
The Real ID is a real problem, a real assault on freedom and privacy, a real multibillion-dollar boondoggle, and a real bureaucratic nightmare. Morning Sentinel, January 17, 2007.
December 2006
Capitol to Capitol: Legislation Amending the Real ID Introduced - December 18, 2006.
Georgia lawmakers gear up to oppose national ID requirements
Legislators in Georgia and elsewhere are rebelling against the federal mandates contained in the Real ID Act. Atlanta Journal-Consitution, 12/17/2006
Homeland security chief defends Real ID plan
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff on Thursday defended forthcoming national ID cards as vital for security and consistent with privacy rights. News.com via New York Times, 12/14/2006
Panelists spar over national, mandatory ID cards
Policy watchers and technology industry members on Thursday sparred over the implementation of federally mandated standards for identification cards and driver's licenses. National Journal Technology Daily via GovExec.com, 12/14/2006
November 2006
Renewing your driver's license may get a lot tougher
The days of renewing your driver's license on the Internet could be over in 2008. Regulations expected to be issued at the end of this year by the Department of Homeland Security will spell out a new, stricter set of requirements governing how states may issue driver's licenses and identification cards. Metro West Daily News, 11/15/2006
Uninsured drivers target of proposal
To combat problems created by uninsured drivers, Nebraska state Sen. Ray Aguilar plans to introduce legislation next year that would create a driver's certificate. Associated Press via Rocky Mountain News, 11/13/2006
Commentary: A REAL ID hassle
Warning to all New Mexico residents: After May 11, 2008, come prepared when you renew your driver's license. Find your original Social Security card and your original birth certificate and one more piece of identity proof, and hope there isn't any variation in your name - William, Will, Bill. Make sure you have the legal documents that verify any name changes. Albuquerque Tribune, 11/8/2006
Virginia DMV excavates backlog
The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles knows a lot about bottlenecks and backups, and not just the kind on the roads. Until recently, employees handling DMV’s records were stuck in a 2.5 million-document backlog that stretched, in terms of time, six months or more. Government Computer News, 11/6/2006
Driver's license woes expected to get worse
Ask people at a state driver’s license office about the hassle they experience and you can expect to get an earful. Tuscaloosa News, 11/5/2006
October 2006
Kulongoski says legislature should decide license issue
Governor Ted Kulongoski says he expects the next Legislature to take on the touchy question of who should get Oregon driver's licenses but that he won't take sides on the issue. Associated Press via KGW.com, 10/30/2006
Unnecessary and intrusive: REAL ID is a real threat to Colorado
If the Colorado Legislature does nothing but implement the REAL ID Act, as the federal government demands, then after May 2008, all Colorado driver’s license holders will have to be “re-enrolled” under as-of-yet unknown regulations decided by the federal Department of Homeland Security. As a result, Colorado lawmakers (and thus Coloradoans) will have little or no say as to how driver’s licenses are issued, what information will be attached to the license or who will have access to that information. Denver Daily News, 10/29/2006
Driver's license system at issue
Residents of more than 80 rural Kansas counties would have to drive long distances to renew their driver's licenses under new regulations being discussed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that would delegate powers of renewal to only state-run agencies. Topeka Capital-Journal, 10/25/2006
New REAL ID pointer system may be modeled after trucker database
A database used to keep track of hazardous-material truckers has been recommended by an informal but influential working group of state and federal driver’s license officials as the pattern for a pointer system for information sharing required by the Real ID Act. Washington Technology, 10/23/06
REAL ID woes
There is cause for concern over the federal Real ID Act and its May 2008 deadline for compliance. We, for example, are worried about how the act will affect Indiana. This is not a state whose Bureau of Motor Vehicles can afford a lot more delays or confusion in the processing of license branch transactions. South Bend Tribune, 10/23/2006
REAL ID comes with privacy concerns
State governments must resist the urge to use data needed to verify the identity of driver’s license applicants for other purposes, a privacy expert told attendees at an information technology conference. FCW.com, 10/23/2006
New federal ID regulations might cause hardship for some Kansans
Some elderly drivers in western Kansas' Smith County might not drive beyond a 25-mile radius of their home, County Treasurer Mark Schemm said. Hutchinson News, 10/18/2006
New federal ID rules costly to Texas' driver's license bureau
New federal requirements for driver's licenses aimed at tighter security will be very costly to the State of Texas' driver's license bureau. Judy Brown, chief of the Texas Department of Public Safety's driver's license division, predicted at a legislative hearing that the state will need to hire 700 new employees to accommodate the 4 million to 7 million Texans who will have to produce new documents for their driver's licenses. Government Technology, 10/16/2006
September 2006
REAL ID, real costly
A new estimate that puts the cost to the states of implementing the Real ID program more than 100 times higher than previously indicated should give New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch good reason to leave his state's participation in the plan in its current state of limbo. Eagle-Tribune, 9/27/2006
National survey: Secure driver's licenses could cost $11 billion
New federal security rules for issuing driver's licenses could cost $11 billion to implement, raising concerns among states about paying for the changes, according to a national survey of states. Eagle-Tribune, 9/25/2006
Editorial: Who will pay for it?
Congress must not like the states from where they are sent to serve. Congress frequently passes laws that the states must obey at their considerable expense. One example of this is the emerging federal requirement for state driver's licenses, which in effect will become federal identity papers. The Canton Repository, 9/24/2006
Study sets real cost of ID law far higher
The Real ID Act, which sets national standards for driver's licenses and identification cards starting in May 2008, will cost the states at least $11 billion over the next five years, according to a new report. The Press Enterprise, 9/22/2006
Study: U.S. ID rules will cost $11B
New federal security-standard requirements for state driver's licenses and identification cards will cost states more than $11 billion, according to a study released Thursday by three state government groups. Bloomberg News, 9/22/2006
Too little time, too much cost for Real ID
States cannot possibly meet a May 2008 federal deadline for making driver’s licenses more secure – or afford costs that could mount to more than $11 billion over five years, according to a survey of state motor vehicle administrators released today (Sept. 21). Stateline.org, 9/22/2006
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