While Congress debates national health care legislation that could put new fiscal burdens on the states, the nation’s governors are pushing Capitol Hill for a reprieve from another costly federal program that states have long criticized: Real ID. 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.
“Our citizens should not be punished for the failures of Real ID,” the governors wrote. “We therefore ask that you work with us to pass (the Pass ID Act) before the end of the year.”
To read earlier Stateline.org coverage of the proposed Pass ID program, click here.
Powered by
By Chi Cheverra on Nov 19, 2009 9:54:41 AM
This is Orweillian, and I would never sign up for it.
The states should reject it.
The Federal Government is far too oppressive, and have over stepped their Constitutional bounds on way too many subjects.
It's time they are put in their proper place..............
NO states should bow the knee for this egrious program.....funded or not.
Report as Offensive
The one best way to fix the Real ID Unfunded Federal Mandate
By Lawrence Rosier on Nov 19, 2009 4:23:40 AM
From: Lawrence Rosier Management Consultant Article 120. Collaborative Innovation between States and Federal Government
On the surface this appears to be nearly impossible task since nearly all of these databases have been developed as proprietary systems. The answer is to have the federal government develop the software application program for a state motor vehicle Relational Database (RD) and give the software to each of the states. Each state would then load the new RD with the motor vehicle data from their old proprietary database. Since the state RDs are easily linked this would provide a giant national motor vehicle RD which could be easily accessed by law enforcement and Homeland Security.
The system could also become a National ID database. The addition of a thumb print system would make it a fool proof system for Identification. This would save the public, businesses and the Federal Government $ billions in stolen identities.
This is also a simple solution to a much larger problem. State information systems are mostly obsolete proprietary systems that have been developed over the years by adding application programs that were developed or purchased by the state Computer Information Systems Departments. Each state has sunk $ millions into the development of these obsolete systems.
Relevant articles:
Article 120. Collaborative Innovation between States and Federal Government
Article 138. State Information Technology Centralized Data Centers
Article 143. Examples of a Relational Database Management System
Article 144. Why States Lose Millions by Using Obsolete Computer Systems
Article 145. The Coming Revolution in Information Technology Systems
Article 150. The Biggest Boondoggle Ever in State Information Technology
Article 153. Example of the Advantage of a Relational Database
Article 161. IBM The Most Costly Hoax of the Century
Article 162. Bringing Virginia?s State Government Back on Track
Report as Offensive