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Real ID Act: The Time to Object is Now

By Jeralyn, Section Civil Liberties
Posted on Thu May 05, 2005 at 10:15:39 AM EST
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The Real ID Act is not law yet. Read some more objections, and then contact your representatives in Congress and tell them to vote now. The bill deserves full debate and should be a stand alone measure, not tacked on to the spending bill. The drivers' license provisions are overburdensome and the immigration provisions strip habeas corpus rights.

Congress is moving toward requiring states to verify whether applicants are in the U.S. legally before issuing driver's licenses.....The real story here isn't security, or even drivers licenses. It's the Federal government imposing yet another "unfunded mandate" on the states. This is where Congress sets a policy, and then demands that a lower level (state, county, city) government implement and pay for it. It amounts to a hidden Federal tax increase.

[hat tip: AOL Blog Zone]

On a related note, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops is launching a big campaign to support immigration reforms, in challenge to President Bush.

Comprehensive immigration reform – including a broad legalization program – is the goal of a national campaign among Catholics in the United States to be launched Tuesday, May 10, in Washington, DC.

Church leaders will announce a new effort to educate and galvanize Catholics of the need for “justice for immigrants,” and to challenge President Bush and Congress to adopt reform measures built on principles issued by U.S. and Mexican bishops in 2003.

The four principles include:

  • legalization for the undocumented;
  • expanded opportunities for legal entry for work and family reunification;
  • establishment of an appropriate and effective temporary workers program;
  • and re-establishment of due process rights and other legal safeguards.
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    Real ID Act: The Time to Object is Now | 5 comments (5 topical)
    Re: Real ID Act: The Time to Object is Now (none / 0) (#5)
    by jimcee on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:57:34 PM EST
    kdog, Me too and welcome to a brave new world. I won't even bring up my "lag times" in border limbo in my travels. It sucked but with good humour and a bunch of patience I made it through. It really would have been so much easier with an iris scan or whatever. Its one thing to be asked for ID and another to carry a paranoid chip on ones shoulder. Trust me good humour, politness and positive ID are your best international travel tools.

    Re: Real ID Act: The Time to Object is Now (none / 0) (#1)
    by DawesFred60 on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:58:46 PM EST
    I really don't think people get it at all, and that is sad, but in the end you will all pay for not acting against this outrage. so have fun living inside the coming camp system.

    Re: Real ID Act: The Time to Object is Now (none / 0) (#2)
    by Richard Aubrey on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:58:46 PM EST
    off-topic comment, baiting comment deleted. Richard, this is your second such comment today. One more, and you''ll no longer be welcome here.

    Re: Real ID Act: The Time to Object is Now (none / 0) (#3)
    by jimcee on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:58:46 PM EST
    Really don't have a problem having to show multiple proof of who I am and where I live if it makes the licensing agent be sure who the are about issue proof-positive ID. I don't see where this is such an imposition because if you really want a driver's license you'll do the groundwork of finding out what ID you need to get it. If you stand in line and are rejected because of inadequate ID then you will make sure you get the proper paperwork in order next time. A pain in the a$$? Yeah it is. A waste of time in the name of the WOT? Might be. A burden for the local DMV? No that's thier business anyway, by the book.... An abusive abridgement of Constitutional Rights? No for the simple reason the a drivers license is not a right but a privilige and if want one or need one then you will jump through the appropriate hoops or you go begging (or whining which would be the most likely case).

    Re: Real ID Act: The Time to Object is Now (none / 0) (#4)
    by kdog on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:58:47 PM EST
    It's not just about driving....you need photo id to wipe your arse these days. It's become impossible to live without one. I prefer freedom.

    Real ID Act: The Time to Object is Now | 5 comments (5 topical)