SENATE BILL AIMS TO REPEAL `REAL ID' LAW OPPONENTS DEEM LICENSE REGULATIONS TOO EXPENSIVE.Byline: LISA The first personal computer to include integrated software and use a graphical interface. Modeled after the Xerox Star and introduced in 1983 by Apple, it was ahead of its time, but never caught on due to its $10,000 price and slow speed. FRIEDMAN Washington Bureau Faced with having to pay $500 million for federally mandated driver's licenses aimed at identifying illegal immigrants, California officials are looking to the new Democratic Congress for financial relief. And they may find it in a Senate bill that essentially would repeal the so-called ``Real ID'' law, condemning it as an ``unrealistic and unfunded burden on state governments.'' Introduced by Sens. Daniel Akaka Daniel Kahikina "Dan" Akaka (born September 11, 1924) is the junior U.S. Senator from Hawaii and a member of the Democratic Party. He is the second U.S. Senator of Native Hawaiian ancestry and is currently the only Chinese American member of the Senate. , D-Hawaii, and John Sununu John Sununu is the name of two U.S. politicians:
In its place, the senators would set up a process that lets states and the federal government jointly create license standards. ``There is nothing realistic about `Real ID,''' Akaka said in a floor speech before the Senate adjourned last year. ``Real ID'' was championed by Rep. David Dreier David Timothy Dreier (born July 5, 1952), American politician, has been a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives since January 1981, representing California's 26th congressional district (map). He was first elected to the U.S. House at age 28 in 1980. , R-Glendora, as a means of protecting America from terrorists. Aimed at preventing states from issuing driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants, it requires states to verify the legal status of all applicants or risk having the state's licenses banned for federal uses like boarding an airplane. It passed when Rep. James Sensenbrenner, the Wisconsin Republican who formerly chaired the House Judiciary Committee Judiciary Committee may refer to:
Since then, California and other states have been on a rampage against the measure. According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. the National Conference of State Legislatures The abbreviation NCSL redirects here. For the British educational institution see National College for School Leadership. The National Conference of State Legislatures , Real ID is expected to cost states about $11 billion over the next five years. So far, Congress has appropriated $40 million. ``The costs associated with it are out of reach for California,'' state Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez said during a recent trip to Washington to lobby for federal funding. ``My hope is that Congress will roll it back.'' Nunez and others estimate the state will have to spend at least $500 million to prepare for an estimated 15 million Californians who will have to get a new license from the Department of Motor Vehicles In the United States of America, Department of Motor Vehicles (or DMV) is a commonly used name of the government agency of a U.S. state which administers the registration of automobiles (e.g., by issuing license plates), and/or the licensing of drivers (e.g. . ``Every individual who currently has a driver's license will have to come in and re-enroll as if they were a brand-new applicant,'' said Jeremy Meadows, senior policy director for the National Conference of State Legislatures. He also noted that because DMV DMV abbr. Department of Motor Vehicles clerks would have to inspect birth certificates and other documents for authenticity, all of the technological innovations developed over the past few years -- such as online registration -- would be unusable. ``We view this as largely a federal mandate and the federal government needs to at least ante up for the cost of this requirement,'' Meadows said. But conservatives and others concerned about illegal immigration called the effort to repeal the law a threat to national security. ``Anything that we do to backpedal on securing the nation against terrorist attacks is a step in the wrong direction,'' said Rep. Elton Gallegly, R-Thousand Oaks. ``Remember, the Democrats campaigned on implementing all of the 9-11 Commission recommendations immediately. `Real ID' came out of a 9-11 recommendation,'' added Sensenbrenner spokesman Jeff Lungren. For Democrats to repeal the bill, he charged, would be ``hypocritical and shocking.'' ``Everyone has a responsibility as it relates to costs,'' Gallegly said. ``We can discuss that as we move through this and find out what the actual costs are.'' The Department of Homeland Security Noun 1. Department of Homeland Security - the federal department that administers all matters relating to homeland security Homeland Security executive department - a federal department in the executive branch of the government of the United States has not yet issued required regulations for the standards. Some activists like Meadows warn that the federal government won't put anything into effect before June, when many state legislatures will already be out of session and unable to set funding levels. For now, all eyes are on the Department of Homeland Security. Akaka vowed that he would review the regulations before pursuing action on his bill. No action has been proposed in the House and for now, California's U.S. senators also remain noncommittal. In the meantime Adv. 1. in the meantime - during the intervening time; "meanwhile I will not think about the problem"; "meantime he was attentive to his other interests"; "in the meantime the police were notified" meantime, meanwhile , California DMV spokesman Mike Marando said the state is not waiting for the possibility of new congressional action. ``We're dealing in California as if it's going to be a go, and we're preparing accordingly,'' Marando said. lisa.friedman(at)langnews.com (202) 662-8731 |
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion