Real ID became law not through the usual legislative process, but instead as part of a mammoth Iraq spending and Asian tsunami bill, the "Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Tsunami Relief, 2005."
... A May deadline looms as just one flash point in a political showdown between Homeland Security and states that oppose Real ID demands. This is the first in four-part series examining the confrontation.
Shipyard Brewing Company's Maine ales, handcrafted in a former foundry on Portland's waterfront from malted barley, buckets of hop leaves, and Sebago Lake water, have risen to regional prominence. In 2007, the 14-year-old company shipped just more than 1 million cases.
Expanding sales of Shipyard Export Ale, Old Thumper Extra Special, and Bluefin Stout beyond New England has meant trips out of Portland's airport every other week for Fred Forsley, the company's co-founder and president. Forsley, 47, says his most frequent sales calls are to customers in Florida, New York, California, and Arizona.
But starting on May 11, Forsley may no longer be permitted to use his Maine driver's license to fly out of the Portland International Jetport. Under the federal Real ID Act, which the Bush administration has touted as an antiterrorist measure, federal screeners could be required to reject it as invalid identification.
When our sad pack of presidential candidates look you in the eye and tell you they can unite a divided America, believe them. The one thing each of them knows how to do?present the citizenry with unworkable, invasive, underfunded mandates?is the one sure way to bring together bizarre masses of humanity.Take the REAL ID Act, the sputtering effort to unite Americans under a common banner of department of moter vehicle regulations and porous databases. In common purpose, it has united the Amish, gun owners, and advocates for victims of domestic abuse, all of whom want to see it killed.
This 90-second Freedom Files video short looks at the federal Real ID Act that may be on its way to your local motor vehicles office, where it would bring longer lines, worse service, bureaucratic nightmares, and higher fees – and turn your driver’s license into a true federalized national identity card that will be used to invade our privacy in ways Americans have never seen before.
For an up-to-date list of states where legislation against Real ID is currently active,