Did you know that Maine has become the first state to refuse the Real ID?

Question

Maine Becomes First State in Nation to Reject Real ID Legislature Passes a Resolution Refusing to Implement the National ID Card FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, January 25, 2007 Augusta- Maine became the first state in the nation to reject the federal Real ID Act today. The Legislature voted this morning in favor of a resolution refusing to implement the Real ID Act. The Senate vote was unanimous while only four members of the House voted in opposition. At a press conference today, the bipartisan sponsors of the resolution celebrated a victory that they say will save Mainers from paying millions of dollars to fund the program, becoming easy targets for identity theft, and dealing with endless bureaucratic snafus. The Real ID Act, which mandates that by 2008 states turn their driver’s licenses into national ID cards that will be part of a 50-state shared database, faced broad bipartisan opposition in Maine. The federal government may be willing to burden us with the high costs of a program that will do nothing to make us safer, but it is our job as state Legislators to protect the people of Maine from just this sort of dangerous federal mandate, said Senate Majority Leader Libby Mitchell (D- Augusta), the lead sponsor of the resolution in the Senate. As a Mainer, I am proud that this state has led the way in taking a stand against Real ID. The broad bipartisan opposition in Maine to Real ID shows just how problematic the law is, said Representative Scott Lansley (R- Sabattus), the lead sponsor of the resolution in the House. It wouldn’t make any sense to implement a program that is opposed by so many people from both sides of the aisle and doesn’t seem to have any real benefits for the people of Maine. Real ID has gained the ire of privacy advocates, who say linking driver’s licenses and state ID cards to a national database will create a goldmine of accessible information for identity thieves. The Real ID Act requires the cards to include a computer-readable zone, which privacy advocates say will allow anyone with a reader to collect the personal identifying information of anyone with a card. Real ID is a real privacy nightmare, said House Majority Leader Hannah Pingree (D- North Haven), a sponsor of the resolution. It won’t make us any safer, but it could make us vulnerable to identity theft. Real ID has also caused concern over the amount it will cost states in taxpayer dollars. While the Real ID Act is a federal law, it doesn’t come with federal appropriations. In order to adopt Real ID, states will need new technology and an increase in Bureau of Motor Vehicle workers. Experts have estimated the initial cost of implementing the system at $11 billion to the states, and Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap said the cost to Maine would be $185 million over the first five years. Real ID means huge costs, huge bureaucracy, and a huge threat to individual liberties, said Shenna Bellows, Maine Civil Liberties Union Executive Director. It creates a virtual one-stop shop for identity thieves. Maine did the right thing to oppose this. The resolution passed by the Maine Legislature resolves that, in protest of the treatment of the states by the President and United States Congress, the State of Maine refuses to implement the Real ID Act and implores the United States Congress to repeal the Real ID Act. The resolution is the first of its kind in the nation.

nonalcoholic2: I am fully aware of what is supposed to happen if you do not have a Read ID card. I also know that other states will not allow the Feds to bully them into implementing this foolish and assinine law. It will not stop terrorism. Do you think Gun control stops criminals from buying guns? No way in Hell.
They can not prevent Us the citizens of maine from flying on an airplane, entering a federal building, receiving federal benefits, etc. if we are exercising our constitutional right to privacy and if our state has said no to the law.

Answer 1

Thank God that at least one state has some sense. Why do we need a national ID? The only reason is to further enable the government to keep track of it's own citizens. If illegals or terrorist want one they will just steal or forge one -- either of which is easy enough done. Terrorist do not follow the law only good citizens do. We have to stop our government from encroaching further upon our right and privileges as citizens. They have forgotten they serve us not we them!

Answer 2

Unless other states step up they are going to have a hard time refusing to follow through with the new id's. State can't over rule federal law. I think it's ridiculous that the federal govt. could care less what the people think on so many things.

In WV they are reporting that the fee for drivers licenses could go up to $100 (in wv only) Because the state does not have enough money to update to the system requirements needed for the new id's.

Answer 3

This is a sign that the hypocrite party always known as the republican party or Grand Olde Poop are WRONG and that they should go to their roots of when they were born in 1854!!!

They should heed to the advise of the late Barry Morris Goldwater 6 years before he died. Senator Goldwater admitted that SOME of his view were not swell.

Answer 4

Yea, the don't to pay the money to implement the law.

Answer 5

Hooray for Maine! I hope that my New England state refuses it next.

Answer 6

You forgot to tell them what happens if you do not get a national id. I am sure with all the information you just explained, you came across the consequences of not getting the id.

Answer 7

I know it now, thanks.

Yay for states' rights!
Yay for citizens' rights!
Too bad for Big Brother. :-)

Answer 8

It's a waste of money anyway.

Answer 9

So Maine made an idiotic decision. I'm sure there's enough intelligent people in Maine to eventually bring the state back to sanity.