Patchmonkey's diary
"The US Senate is scheduled to vote this Tuesday on the Real ID Act. They've never debated the bill. Most of them haven't even bothered to read it.Nevertheless, they're going to pass it: unless we do something to stop them." is about to scroll down into the Great Lost Diary Swirl. We do need to stop this ill-advised legislation, and we do need to contact Senators in the next 48 hours.
There are some basic talking points:
- This bill does not address the problems it seeks to solve.
- This bill is a huge unfunded mandate from the federal government.
- This bill does not adequately address personal identity security issues.
More below the fold--->
HR 418 does not address the issues it purports to solve.
As much as the bill's supporters wave the bloody shirt of 9/11, nothing in this bill would prevent a terrorist from entering a Federal Building or boarding a commercial aircraft. All the terrorist would have to do is show a passport.
Nothing in the bill requires more careful attention to the granting of visas. Nothing in the bill addresses the identification of foreign nationals who seek to do us harm.
HR 418 will cause more problems than it will solve.
1. Citizens of States that do not conform to the documentation requirements in HR 418 within three years will find themselves at a disadvantage in comparison to foreign nationals.
A foreign national with passport identification could enter Federal buildings and courthouses, and could board commercial aircraft. A US citizen could be denied entry or boarding privileges.
2. Citizens of states not certified by the Department of Homeland Security will be at a disadvantage in comparison with the states that can afford to conform.
A citizen of a certified state could enter federal property, drive on federal military installations, or board commercial aircraft. A citizen of an uncertified state could not. One hypothetical example of this problem would occur if a military base were located within an uncertified state: Could a delivery truck driver holding that state's CDL enter the base to deliver supplies? Likely not.
A citizen of an uncertified state could be denied a military driver's license.
A citizen of an uncertified state could be denied online or mail-in license renewal while serving in the US Armed Forces.
HR 418 represents an unfunded mandate for the States.
Nothing in the bill provides for the additional staffing, staff training, documentation storage, and equipment procurement necessary for a state to reach certification within the next three years.
Nothing in the bill addresses efforts by the States in recent years to reduce costs by providing online or mail-in license renewal. No funds are appropriated for staff training in document verification, for document storage, or for staffing increases necessary to meet Federal standards.
HR 418 contains no safeguards for the protection of personal identity records.
Given the loss of IRS records, and the recent reports of records problems with Bank of America, AOL, and retail outlets, it's unconscionable that the legislation does not address issues regarding the protection of records containing personal identity information.
In short: In the Republican Party's haste to forbid States from issuing driver's licenses to illegal immigrants, it has created serious problems for US citizens and costs estimated between $100 million and $500 million for the States.
Please Contact
Your Senators concerning the problems with this legislation.
Your representatives in your State Legislature about the unfunded mandate contained in this bill.
