Debate Over Real ID
posted 01/04/09
11:26 pm
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It's meant for our protection, but some Virginia lawmakers say a brand new national identification program called Real ID may end up hurting Americans. The Federal government has given states until next year to have the system in place. Some Virginia lawmakers want the state to opt-out altogether.
Real ID. It's something many people have never even heard of.
Manuel - "Have you heard about the Real ID?" Vincent Barbour - "No I have not."
Danny Mays - "I have not."
Congress passed Real ID in response to the September 11 terror attacks. It's meant to create a stricter and unified national system of identification.
Gov. Tim Kaine, Virginia (D) - "My prediction is what Real ID will mean is that Americans in 10 years getting a driver's license will be like getting a passport."
And some lawmakers wish it would go away, at least in its current form.
Del. Bob Marshall, (R) 13th District - "There are people across the political spectrum who have these concerns. The concern is how this operates and can it work against the very citizens it is supposed to protect."
Everyone would eventually get a new card and use it at airports or when going into Federal buildings. But opponents worry about our privacy and civil liberties. It's a case of he said, she said. The Feds say a new ID system would protect us from ID theft, opponents say it could make us more vulnerable.
Marshall - "We already have stricter ID requirements for getting driver's licenses, that's not the problem. The problem is how this information can be shared or accessed or retrieved.
Past proposals to have Virginia opt-out of Real ID have failed. But some lawmakers say the looming Federal deadline may make a difference this time around. States also worry about paying for this Federal mandate. At least 42 states have considered anti-Real ID proposals. However – a handful of others have passed laws to comply with Real ID.
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