The following post was written by Jill R. Aitoro.
At a event on Friday, DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano had no kind words to say about Real ID, which was passed by a Republican-controlled Congress in 2005 to require states to issue new high-tech driver's licenses that incorporate a range of security features. Speaking to reporters following a press event this afternoon, Napolitano described the legislation as "enormously expensive," "containing a lot of uncertainly," and lacking adequate "constitutional governance."
DHS will be going "back to the drawing board," to figure out whether an enhanced driver's license is feasible, Napolitano said, but in the meantime the existing law will intentionally remain on the back burner.
This month, Nextgov's sister publication, CongressDaily, reported that Napolitano's office is participating in a working group established by the National Governors Association to review the Real ID law and determine whether statutory changes need to be made. Cost, as well as technical and privacy issues associated with Real ID led to a firestorm of objections from states, with upwards of two dozen resisting the law. Last summer, while still serving as Arizona governor, Napolitano signed a law prohibiting Real ID from being implemented in the state.
COMMENTS
I really fail to understand the need for a national ID of any kind. Those with criminal intent WILL find a way to subvert it. Any ID that can be created by man can be defeated by man. Reall IDs will only be used to terrorize law-abiding citizens. I am somewhat horrified to know that many have bought into the idea that a national ID is necessary.
Patrick Hazell 06/25/09 04:13 pm ET
Enhanced drivers' licenses (EDLs) are even worse then REAL ID. The EDLs will contain RFID microchip technology. Take the bus if you have to, folks, but absolutely no one should ever accept an EDL.
Nick 04/09/09 08:00 pm ET
Since the Real ID Act of 2005 was passed in response to the recommendations of the 9-11 Commission, then it was a passed on the assertion that Osama bin Laden did it with five box cutters to a jumbo jet.
Anyone not satisfied with this basis for deep intrusions into the personal lives of Americans might want to look up the demurers to the Box Cutter Story on 9-11 Truth web sites.
Jean B. 04/08/09 03:24 pm ET
The Real ID is unconstitutional. The government lacks authority to require or implement such a system. Either change the constitution using means specified for amendments with the consent of the governed, or jail the lawbreakers as collaborators seeking to undermine the law of the land.
Filby 04/08/09 01:22 pm ET
Again, the criminals and other "bad guys" will figure out how to get around the ID and the common citizen will have yet another government infringement and restriction forced upon them. If the perfect ID can be invented, it can also be defeated. I say, forget about such an ID---all American citizens should be able to travel freely without displaying an ID.
Patrick Hazell 04/08/09 01:03 pm ET
ID has been a thorn in any system of any country for a long time. the issue is not how the politicians handle real I.D. But we as a country in whole handle the threats around us that make real i.d an issue. On issue that is the biggest is the DMV issued picture card no matter how many safety features installed on the card some computer expert finds a way to bypass security. So the issue at hand is to make a card that will be of use to law enforcement and services to the public that can carry all vital data. And when used at any scan point it will require the holders finger print are some form of DNA trace. it may seem like science fiction. But lets face it this is not the 20th century any more. the tec is there its just who holds the the rights to it the politicians are the people.
John Donaldson Jr 04/06/09 09:01 am ET
We need some type of national, secure, ID card. The State drivers license is the most convienent way to achieve this. Most have a license, and those who do not, can get the new card by submitting absolute proofs of identity to the DMV system.
Why is this such a problem to implement? Can't each state agree to simply positively verify the ID of someone who applies for the card? Can't we agree to a standard card format?
There is no doubt that this can be done, however, it is important to remember that when simple things suddenly become difficult, some group has it in their best interest to keep what we need from happening.
Stuart 04/03/09 05:27 pm ET
Perhaps we should fix the problem via a method that will also help fix the credit and the insurance problem -- get a new national number that is used for everything else, and let the SSN go back to what it was intended. This should also help on Identify theft.
Jona 04/01/09 09:15 am ET
All of the 9/11 terrorists had valid IDs. I fail to see how all these ID checks make us any safer.
The Patriot is also an unPatriotic piece of garbage and should be eliminated along with ReadID.
GJ 03/30/09 10:30 pm ET
Johnnie,
If you are addressing George as former President, Please address President Obama as well.
Thanks
Gary Harris 03/30/09 01:43 pm ET
Johnnie is right to point out that the legislation was designed by Congress and the Bush Administration in response to the 9/11 commission report. Having said that, it also seems to me to be largely an 'unfunded mandate.'
I think States have also resisted the legislation due to an overly sensitive sense of 'state's rights;' so lacking funds can also be the excuse for assuaging not-so-subtle state sensitivities.
Having looked at this in the US and abroad, I can confirm that there are some significant differences as well in the form of the ID, and especially the use of biometric data. Should it be a 10-print slap? Should it be an iris scan? Or a facial scan, or a voice scan, or some combination?
There's technology available for all of these, some more mature than others. But all are expensive to implement, even the simplest ones cost money to produce plain old fingerprint cards, not to mention the systems costs to load them into database applications, and then manage them.
I think that Secretary Napolitano is neither dangerous nor actively trying to put the country in danger. The fact is REAL ID has some very REAL practical hurdles to cross before it can be effectively implemented. Since the new Secretary's been on the job only a couple of months now, perhaps we should restrain the invective until there's actually something put on the table by the Secretary as an alternative.
timb 03/30/09 12:34 pm ET
The Secretary is absolutely right! "enormously expensive," "containing a lot of uncertainly," and lacking adequate "constitutional governance."
She needs to extend the thought to e-notify, airport sneaker sniffers, and god know what else in the DHS's insatiable appetite.
M Onger 03/30/09 11:35 am ET
President Bush and the "Republican controlled Congress" were responding to the 9/11 commission report when they developed and passed the READ ID Act of 2005. This is the same report that Congress told President Bush they wanted the White House to use to implement changes within the government. People seem to forget that the 9/11 commission report was/is heralded as a comprehensive, thorough report that the Congress felt the POTUS should implement. NOW that issues such as the REAL ID Act of 2005, and before that the Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12) have been issued, every one wants to cry foul!! So, what are the alternatives? Napolitano nor does any of the states provide alternatives.
When states like California & New Mexico issue driver's licenses to illegal aliens, what does that mean to the safety and security of our country? We use them to ID ourselves to airlines, and they are taken as official documentation (see DHS/USCIS Form I-9) to obtain other credentials/services. So how can any one rely on California's and New Mexico's driver's licenses when they are not based on creditable documentation?? Remember, illegal aliens are not just Hispanics. They can be any one, from any country - they cannot discriminate and not issue one to a Chinese, North Korean or Arab alien.
Congress and President Bush got this one right!! No one said it wasn't going to be expensive. HSPD-12 cost the executive branch close to $2 billion. Now other countries want to emulate what we're doing. Obviously, HSPD-12 credentialing is based on sound principles and the REAL ID Act of 2005 will mimic the ground work it laid.
Napolitano is dangerous, and will assist to unravel years of good work, and put our country in harms way - all because she is clueless. I'm not saying DHS is perfect, but it is (or was) working diligently to be.
Some one please remind me: Napolitano's credentials to hold the position of Secretary of DHS are what? It should take more than being a friend of Barack Hussein Obama to head such an important department. But now that the White House and the Congress are lead by Democrats, I guess qualifications go out the door, and the ghost of Andy "Ole Hickory" Jackson is smiling.
Johnnie Johnson 03/30/09 09:00 am ET