Another Fine Mess Obama Inherited - Real ID Act

[QueenOfCalifornia]

Sorry if this has been posted - I didn't see or hear anything about this and so I thought I'd post it. :)

Obama May Let Real ID Act Just Fade Away
Friday January 2, 2009
No doubt about it, Computerworld’s article Obama administration to inherit a real mess on Real ID is spot on, not to mention the even more expensive messes faced by the states in dealing with the Bush era, high-tech drivers license program intended to somehow fight terror. But before you start trying to dig up your birth certificate so you can get your license renewed, remember that before she became President-elect Obama’s nominee to run the Department of Homeland Security, Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano, signed a bill barring her state from implementing the Real ID Act.
This could pose a problem, considering that the Department of Homeland Security is the federal agency responsible for seeing to it that all states, including Arizona, make the Real ID Act happen. Under the law, citizens of states that fail to comply with Real ID could be barred from boarding commercial airliners, entering federal buildings or receiving federal benefits, including Social Security payments. Yes, they will still be "allowed" to pay federal income tax.

Under current regulations, the states have until Dec. 31, 2009 to prove that their driver’s license or ID card issuance systems are capable of verifying the lawful status of all applicants to prevent illegal aliens from obtaining REAL ID-compliant licenses. Full implementation of Real ID for all persons under 50 years of age is to be completed by Dec. 1, 2014, with all people “enrolled” by Dec. 1, 2017.

In his one-and-only chance while in the Senate to vote on an issue related to the Real ID Act, Napolitano’s new boss, President-elect Obama, chose not to cast his ballot.

Considering that Real ID could cost the states from $11 billion to as much as $17 billion they probably no longer have, and the law’s almost total lack of public support, perhaps the Obama administration will find a way to allow the Real ID Act to quietly fade away.
http://usgovinfo.about.com/b/2009/01/02/obama-may-let-real-id-act-just-fade-away.htm

[Occam Bandage]

1. I actually kind of like the Real ID act in concept,

simply because dealing with cross-border IDs can be a pain in the ass. However, I really don't think that the few mild advantages it would have are anywhere near worth dealing with the endless red tape it would impose not only on states, but also invariably on millions of people.

[JDPriestly]

3. We haven't seen all the secret memos yet and don't know the

extent of the Bush administration's plan for complete domination of the American people and complete surveillance of everything we do. But, I have strong suspicion, albeit unsupported by documentation, that the Real ID Act was just one pillar in the edifice of total government control that the Bush administration was erecting over, under and around us.

[CountAllVotes]

2. good

this type of sh*t needed to die upon birth. Now it is hopefully dead and gone! :thumbsup: Pres. Obama!

:kick: