Tuesday, December 8, 2009

New Mexico: A new battleground State for National ID

BTC Exclusive

New Mexico reports are piling in about every facet and every detailed move DHS or their local governance makes in the direction of a national ID card. However, New Mexico's Senators Udall and Bingaman both have responded to constituents demands to go against the PASS Act.

Most states are pacing themselves on the national ID debate to get through the Healthcare valley of decision. Provisional procrastination on PASS ID and the prospective DHS deadline drama has created a slow reaction time from most States. However, New Mexico's political leaders are buzzing. State level press has been dispached on fact finding missions for any whisker movement from the national ID strata, reporting any leg of development as quickly as possible.

To wit, we feature Neala Schwartzberg for news and analysis in New Mexico. To follow is her latest on New Mexico's relationship to Real ID and a digest of her recent work on the issue. We thank her for joining the ranks of media active in coverage of this issue.
New Mexico is not supportive of Real ID in its current form.When talking about Real ID, [Rick] Homans [Secy. of NM Tax and Revenues] says, "It was a bad law to begin with and that’s why 14 states have passed binding legislation that prohibits their state government from taking any steps to comply with Real ID."
NEW MEXICO & REAL ID

Special to BTC, Neala Schwartzberg


One of the issues for us in New Mexico is the issue of foreign nationals. New Mexico views border security as a federal issue and the safety of New Mexico roads and highways as a state issue.

The lack of compliance with the Real ID act does not come from poor security. When it comes to the nuts and bolts of Real and Pass ID, all the security measures, background checks New Mexico is fully in compliance.

Homans notes that people have the perception that if we solve the issue of foreign nationals we’d be home free - but we are still strongly opposed because the issues of privacy and compliance and federal government overstepping its reach.
Neala Schwartzberg is an Albuquerque-based freelance writer specializing in travel-related stories, and publisher of Offbeattravel.com and OffbeatNewMexico.com and The Albuquerque Travel Examiner.
DIGEST: REAL ID & NEW MEXICO

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