New legislation has been introduced that would supersede the Real ID Act. The Providing for Additional Security in States' Identification Act of 2009, or the PASS ID Act

Feds back down in ID dispute with state


Jun 22, 2009 (Las Cruces Sun-News - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- The feds blinked first.

In May 2005, Congress passed the Real ID Act, giving states until May 11, 2008, to comply with tough new federal standards for driver's licenses, including sharing information among states for a new national database and prohibiting licenses from being issued to those in the country illegally.



If states didn't comply, their driver's licenses would no longer be valid to board an airplane or enter a federal building, the feds warned.

It didn't take long for states to revolt, blasting the new law as an unfunded mandate and an unnecessary intrusion. One of the first shots in that rebellion was fired here in Las Cruces during an interim Courts, Corrections and Justice Committee meeting of the state Legislature in September 2005. Prodded by representatives from the National Conference of State Legislatures, the National Immigration Law Center and the Cato Institute, state lawmakers signaled their unwillingness to comply with the new federal mandate.

"I'd urge New Mexico to stick to its guns, have a little sagebrush rebellion," House Majority Leader Ken Martinez said at the time.

The May 11, 2008, deadline came and went, and the feds decided to give states until the end of this year. Now, new legislation has been introduced that would supersede the Real ID Act. The Providing for Additional Security in States' Identification Act of 2009, or the PASS ID Act, was introduced Monday. Unlike Real ID, it would not require states to share information in a nationwide database.

For New Mexico, which allows undocumented immigrants to get a state-issued driver's license, the biggest difference is that PASS ID would not require states to authenticate birth certificates, Social Security numbers or other credentials, or verify immigration status.

When Congress passed Real ID, it was responding to one of the recommendations made by the 9-11 Commission. But, as is its wont, it failed to fully fund the new mandate, instead expecting states to pick up much of the cost.

In the meantime, New Mexico has made significant security improvements to its driver's license. Each new license now has biometric technology to compare your photo to 5 million other images, and a magnetic stripe that encodes the printed information on the license. And, all licenses are now issued from a central location. At the time of the legislative meeting here in 2005, we published a scathing editorial criticizing members of that committee, including Rep. Joseph Cervantes, who e-mailed me last week to make sure I saw the new story. The gist of that edit was that lawmakers were putting New Mexicans in a precarious situation. If the feds carried through with their threats, none of us would be able to board a plane without a passport.

Someone in Washington apparently figured out that's the last thing our crippled airline industry needs right not. Good for them. Still, the new ID falls short of what was called for by the 9-11 Commission.

I fully appreciate the creepiness of a national ID. At the same time, I'd kind of like to know that the guy sitting next to me on an airplane is who his ID says he is. If the new PASS ID requirements ensure that, great. If, however, it's a compromise to avoid the cost of a secure ID, that would be nothing to celebrate.

Walter Rubel has been a newsman for more than 25 years and is managing editor of the Sun-News. He can be reached at wrubel@lcsun-news.com.

To see more of the Las Cruces Sun-News, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.lcsun-news.com. Copyright (c) 2009, Las Cruces Sun-News, N.M.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

Views: 39

Comment

You need to be a member of 12160 Social Network to add comments!

Join 12160 Social Network

"Destroying the New World Order"

TOP CONTENT THIS WEEK

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE SITE!

mobile page

12160.info/m

12160 Administrators

 

Latest Activity

Doc Vega posted blog posts
yesterday
tjdavis posted a video

How Corporations Are Secretly Poisoning Our Food Supply

Dupont and 3M have been secretly poisoning America for decades. PFAs — also known as forever chemicals—are now in our food, water, clothes, and our blood. Th...
yesterday
Doc Vega posted a blog post

They Won’t Stop

 The demonically driven left will not stop. Makes no difference how much violence they call for or…See More
Wednesday
Doc Vega posted a blog post

What US Scientist unwittingly helped the Nazis devise the V-2 Missile?

  In the early 1920’s and leading up to World War II German technology outpaces the peace time…See More
Monday
tjdavis favorited Sandy's video
Monday
tjdavis posted a photo
Monday
Christopher Walker is now a member of 12160 Social Network
Oct 19
tjdavis posted videos
Oct 19
Burbia commented on tjdavis's photo
Thumbnail

Reflection

"Let's see if this goes past indictment."
Oct 18
Doc Vega commented on Doc Vega's blog post Something Watches From Out there in the Wilderness
"cheeki kea That's very interesting history. So many things about history that go ignored or…"
Oct 18
Burbia commented on Burbia's video
Oct 18
Burbia posted a video

Programmed To Kill/Satanic Cover-Up Part 433 (The Charlie Kirk Conspiracy Show)

https://www.programmedtokill.net/projects---- DISCLAIMER! ----Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair u...
Oct 18
cheeki kea commented on cheeki kea's photo
Thumbnail

American werewolf- 2018

"Yip I've looked again and this is what the creature looks like, even has stripes just like…"
Oct 18
cheeki kea commented on cheeki kea's photo
Thumbnail

American werewolf- 2018

"The mystery continues I guess. ( reminds me of something out of the under world )"
Oct 18
cheeki kea posted a photo
Oct 18
cheeki kea commented on Doc Vega's blog post Something Watches From Out there in the Wilderness
"Another fine story Doc V. I think it's Dogman the werewolf out there roaming around in high…"
Oct 18
Doc Vega posted blog posts
Oct 18
Doc Vega commented on Doc Vega's blog post What Four UFO Whistle Blowers All Suffered in Common?
"Less Prone Thanks for you comment Buddy! Dabbling in government kept secrets can cost you dearly. I…"
Oct 18
Burbia posted a blog post

Sebastion Piñera and 5G

 Sebastion Piñera “The start of the bidding process for the 5G network. Let’s listen to the threats…See More
Oct 18
tjdavis posted a photo
Oct 16

© 2025   Created by truth.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service

content and site copyright 12160.info 2007-2019 - all rights reserved. unless otherwise noted