For Immediate Release
April 11, 2008
Stand up for SAFE and FREE! The Minnesota Legislature is going to vote on HF1351 on Monday, April 14. This bill contains language rejecting Real ID. Real ID is a huge, unfunded mandate that creates a nationwide database of drivers license and personal data, one stop shopping for identity theft. • Real ID is an unfunded federal mandate. The federal government is looking to establish a national identification card at the states' trouble and expense. This expense includes direct, upfront expenses for capital and information system design as well as ongoing costs for data sharing and document verification. There are also the costs to individuals in Minnesota in terms of longer waits and greater complexity in obtaining their licenses. • Real ID is expensive. The Department of Homeland Security has only requested $110 million in the President's FY 2009 budget to be split between Real ID and other border security programs. So even if Congress passes the full request amount (which they have been reluctant in the past to do), each state will get less that $2 million to implement it - a pittance. • National ID cards invite identity theft. Once all driver license databases are linked, identity thieves have one-stop-shop to anyone's data, either by hacking into the system or bribing a local official. Then, with biometric information on a false ID, the process for restoring a stolen identification becomes much more difficult. • Real ID does not effectively fight terrorism. Many of the 911 hijackers had legal identifications, and Real ID will not have stopped them. Furthermore, Real ID will not stop home-grown terrorists like Timothy McVeigh. ID cards show identity, not criminal intent. • Rejecting Real ID will force a national debate. Real ID was passed without debate as part of a tsunami relief bill. Seventeen states have already refused to comply with Real ID, and more are considering it this year. This anti Real-ID foment will force Congress to move on one of the alternatives to Real ID that are already pending. Minnesota can make a difference! Call the Governor at 1-800-657-3717 and e-mail your legislator at www.leg.state.mn.us and tell them to Vote YES to HF1351 to REJECT REAL ID. For more on Real ID, see www.realnightmare.org.
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