Thursday, May 1, 2008

Legislators Tear Into Real ID ; Chertoff Rallies TSA Goons

STATE GOVERNMENT BEAT UP REAL ID 4-30-08
c/o CNET
WASHINGTON--Democratic and Republican senators alike on Tuesday once again piled criticism upon forthcoming Real ID requirements, with some renewing calls to repeal the law for which many of them voted years ago.

It's a familiar refrain for the Senate's Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, whose members made similar remarks at a hearing around this time last year.
Senators Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii) and George Voinovich (R-Ohio), who presided over a Tuesday subcommittee hearing revisiting the topic, said they remain particularly troubled by Real ID's multibillion-dollar price tag for state governments. Akaka and others also voiced worries about the mandate's privacy and civil liberties implications.

"The massive amounts of personal information that would be stored in state databases that are to be shared electronically with all other states, as well as the unencrypted data on the Real ID card itself, could provide one-stop shopping for identity thieves," Akaka said at the hearing, where senators heard from Homeland Security assistant policy secretary Stewart Baker, state government representatives, and civil liberties activists. ::FULL STORY HERE::

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF POST 5-11 TSA GESTAPO :: READ THE TRANSCRIPT:

DHS released a full transcript of "how it's going to go down" when they demand your ID to qualify you to board the fights you paid for. There is no law in place to enfore their demand of an ID to fly- as indicated in previous posts and from ID rights resources on this site. We would like to prepare you with as much knowlege about what your rights are and what you can do to directly oppose the level of convenience baiting the federal government intends to grind you down with as you move from one place to the other. There is no treading lightly, we have to approach our movement "handlers" like the tools of economic fascism that they are. It doesn't mean responding with aggression, spit and vitriol. It means approaching them with rightful civil disobedience.

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

REPEAL REAL ID IN MISSOURI

Missouri Floor Leader of the Senate, Sen. Charlie Shields is taking calls from constituents nationwide to support the passage of Jim Guest's Legislative House Bill #1716 to repeal Real ID in its entirety for the state of Missouri.

They are working long hours tonight and through tomorrow to help repeal Real ID.

CALL NOW TO SUPPORT THE REPEAL OF REAL ID : 573-751-9476.

TOP STORY : Legislators Prod Congress on Real ID
4-29-08
c/o Stateline.org

Another big-ticket item that states want Congress to tackle is the Real ID Act, the sweeping law approved by Congress in 2005 to ensure that all 50 states issue more secure driver's licenses. Real ID is expected to cost states $3.9 billion over five years.

Governors and state lawmakers last month called on Congress and President Bush to set aside $1 billion to cover the up-front cost of Real ID, according to separate letters from the National Governors Association and NCSL. While NGA wants Congress to “fix and fund” Real ID, NCSL wants an outright repeal.

In an April 4 letter to members of the U.S. Senate, NCSL expressed support for a bill by U.S. Sens. Daniel K. Akaka (D-Hawaii) and John E. Sununu (R-N.H.) that would repeal Real ID and replace it with a new set of rules for more secure driver's licenses that would be negotiated between states and the federal government.(Click here for NCSL’s “Countdown to Real ID” web page, including a database of state legislation).

During the NCSL meeting, a top official with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security expressed concerns over how quickly any new, collaborative rulemaking process between states and the federal government would be able to achieve results.

"This will take forever, and I'm not sure we will get there," Kathy Kraniger, a Homeland Security representative, told state lawmakers April 24.

Pound said Congress could further help states by enacting a second fiscal “stimulus” package that provides more federal dollars for unemployment insurance and for the nation’s crumbling infrastructure and transportation systems. Some states had to put big projects on the back burner because they simply couldn’t afford it.

On the law enforcement front, state lawmakers also lobbied Congress to restore $440 million in funding for a grant program for state and local agencies that seize illicit drugs and help rehabilitate juveniles commit crimes, among many other responsibilities. The program, called the Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program, was cut last year by 67 percent — from $520 million in fiscal 2007 to $170 million in fiscal 2008 — causing law enforcement officials nationwide to consider layoffs and other emergency cost-saving measures.

"I'm very hopeful funding will be restored, because Congress will see how vital (the grant program) is," said South Dakota state Rep. Joni Cutler (R), who has spearheaded the state lawmakers' lobbying efforts in Washington on the issue.

Other national organizations, including the National Governors Association, the National Association of Attorneys General and the National Association of Counties, also have pressed Congress to restore funding for the grants. The state attorneys general last month met with President Bush and U.S. Attorney General Michael B. Mukasey to discuss the grants.

Stateline.org reporters John Gramlich and Daniel C. Vock contributed to this report.

Contact Pamela M. Prah at pprah@stateline.org

5-11 Campaign Action: DON'T FORGET TO WRITE

5-11 Campaign Designs Constituent Letter against Real ID
a BeatTheChip action exclusive

Through the magical convention of today's Internet, we can instantly create ways to communicate with our neighbors and legislators about the issue of Real IDs. Your phone calls and letters hold the most impact. Without your effort and outreach- your concerns won't move an inch toward your benefit. Let's start with those nearest to you.

First, the plea to your friends and enemies to defend freedoms they may take for granted:

Please take note of today's date and then count the days until Real ID becomes the newest American reality, May 11th, 2008. Many believe Real ID to be a true treachery against the US people. This unfunded Congressional mandate is now widely understood to be the "Trojan Horse" in HR 1268- a bill meant to expedite aid to the Indonesian Tsunami victims and bring more reparations to the US troops in 2005; not to have federal tracking devices in our wallets.

This bi-partisan issue has members of both parties expressing their disgust at the prospect of state payouts for what stands to be pan-american ID. We won't be able to enter a Postal Office without one and stand to wait up to 2 hours to board a flight if you don't have a passport. Since when does an American flying from San Diego to LA need a passport? The language surrounding the "official purpose" of Real IDs are deliberately so vague anyone could be manipulated who had one.

Bills to repeal and to halt spending for Real IDs are on the rise against this unpopular bill. The money to develop them will come from state taxpayers to install expensive insecure identity systems where non-profits like AAMVA, will function as an "information clearinghouse" about what you use your ID for. It will have some form of biometric facial grid scanning and possibly a Radio Frequency ID chip. It's just another bill that makes citizens going through their daily lives vulnerable to being cast as a terrorist.

Don't let the Department of Homeland security tell you to take the finance of Real IDs from Education programs, or Art funding or Welfare-to-work programs "or else". Or else what?

You decide. Beneath this are action letters for those in CA and out of state to submit to their public representatives.

Please send your letters today and forward this to your concerned friends.

Best Regards,

[YOUR NAME HERE]
5-11 Campaign against Real ID


From here you attach the following letter fit to send to your Congressional Rep or Senator and your Governor. I stress the uses of letter writing and phone calls to your Governor's office, the Secretary of State's office, and the states DMV heads to ask questions about costs and to tell them a Real ID is not a good use of your tax dollars. If you add your sentiments to the rhetoric below's copy-paste in a legislators contact correspondence.

REMEMBER: Call Washtington before 5 PM (EST) .

Thanks Again to 911 Blogger for their contribution to the 5-11 Campaign

PLEASE COPY-PASTE LETTER TEXT BELOW FOR CONSTITUENT USE:

I am very disappointed in the passing of House Resolution 1268: this resolution contained the appropriations for the REAL ID which will harm the privacy of all Americans (plus, is illegal).
California will have to pay 10.7 to 14.6 billion plus individuals will have to cover an additional 7.8 billion.I am disgusted that I will have to pay for something that will make my identity less secure (Why didn’t you ask the people in our state?).

REAL ID increases identity theft because of the databases that will contain more information that can be stolen of left on laptops). The regulations don’t include any protections against identity theft.The illegal part; the law that created the Department of Homeland Security prohibited a national identification system; thus that law is being broken and our (public) trust is being violated.

I suggest that you also read the Privacy Act of 1974 was includes: the right to limit the use of personal information collected by the federal government, access the data collected about them; correct any mistakes in the data; and turn to the court system to apply for redress.Please, I urge you to oppose this national ID system and support the repeal of REAL ID.

All levels of government officials (state and federal) have a duty to protect the privacy of American citizens.

I hope you will be very vocal and supportive of the following message.

I urge you to support the repeal of the REAL ID Act and stop any further implementation of it; I am an American who cares about individual privacy and real national security. The creation of the national ID system is illegal:

1 - The law that created the Department of Homeland Security prohibited a national identification system (thus by trying to implement REAL ID, DHS is breaking the law and violating the public trust).The REAL ID has real problems:

2 – REAL ID will create a system without adequate privacy and security safeguards: it will make it too easy for identity thieves, stalkers, and corrupt government officials to get access to such personal information as a home address, age, and Social Security number.

3 - It will also make it more difficult for people to get driver's licenses.

4 - The regulations endanger the privacy of domestic violence survivors' personal information, exposing them to stalkers in all 50 states.

This is very important:
5 - If the regulations are not withdrawn, then the Department of Homeland Security must FULLY APPLY all provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974 to this REAL ID system, including the right to limit the use of personal information collected by the federal government, access the data collected about them; correct any mistakes in the data; and turn to the court system to apply for redress.

We the people were unable to speak during the rushed passage of REAL ID.

Please, I urge you to oppose this national ID system and support the repeal of REAL ID.

Regards,

[Constituent-Voter name]
[Location and State]




Real ID vs. Jim Guest in Missouri

Jim Guest takes on Federal ID attempts Missouri 4-28-08
c/o StJoenews.net Political Punch Column

Rep. Jim Guest, R-King City, goes before a Senate committee this evening to push Missouri away from federal regulations for driver’s licenses.

Mr. Guest for more than a year has led a nationwide coalition of legislators against the Real ID Act of 2005, a congressional response to security breaches from the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The Northwest Missouri Republican, however, contends the feds are going too far, citing privacy and identity theft concerns.


States have until December 2009 to comply with one of the 18 Real ID benchmarks – to validate that residents are legally present in the United States before issuing them a license, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Full compliance comes in December 2014 for residents 50 and younger. Residents 50 and older have until 2017. Driver’s licenses in states that don’t comply with the benchmarks will not be accepted as valid forms of identification when boarding airplanes or entering certain federal buildings.

Mr. Guest at 6 p.m. will try to convince a Senate committee to prohibit the Missouri Department of Revenue of complying with Real ID. His HB 1716 would stop the state from “amending any procedures for applying for a driver's license or identification card in order to comply with the standards of the federal Real ID Act of 2005,” under the bill’s summary available at www.house.mo.gov. The House of Representatives passed the bill, 138-3, earlier this month. It needs success in the Senate committee and an up vote in the Senate before Gov. Matt Blunt can sign it into law.

Below is information outlining the 18 federal ID benchmarks, which a homeland security spokeswoman, Amy Kudwa in Washington, provided to the News-Press this afternoon:

1 § 37.11(a) Subject each applicant to a mandatory facial image capture and retain such image even if a driver license (DL) or identification card (ID) is not issued
2 § 37.11(b) Have each applicant sign a declaration under penalty of perjury that the information presented is true and correct, and retain this declaration pursuant to § 37.31.
3 § 37.11(c) (1) Require an individual to present at least one of the source documents listed in subsections (i) through (x) when establishing identity
4 § 37.11(d)-(g) Require documentation of:
• Date of birth
• Social Security Number
• Address of principal residence
• Evidence of lawful status

:: FULL STORY HERE::