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Illinois House backs repeal of Real ID Act
By Mike Riopell
mike.riopell@lee.net
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SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois House joined a national push Thursday in urging Congress to repeal a federal driver’s license law.

The federal Real ID Act would require all U.S. citizens who want to board a plane or enter a federal building to have to have a nationally standardized identification card by 2013. States would have to get the program going by May 2008.

States across the country have approved non-binding resolutions to rebuke the act, many saying that Congress didn’t offer enough money to help states run the program.

On the House floor Thursday, state Rep. Karen Yarbrough, D-Chicago, said Real ID would create a “bureaucratic nightmare.” Opponents also have argued the national database of personal information that would accompany a standardized ID card would be an invasion of privacy and target for identity theft.

The measure was approved without dissent.

Supporters of the act, though, say the program could help prevent the kind of fraud that leads to terrorism.

“We need to accept we are living in an age of terrorism,” said Neil Berro of the Coalition for a Secure Driver’s License. His group was formed in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks. “It’s called insurance.”

The General Assembly’s move came on the same day that Berro was in Springfield meeting with officials at the Secretary of State’s office to discuss the state’s progress on complying with the mandate. Jesse White’s office said they weren’t involved with Thursday’s resolution.

Federal rules that will guide the Real ID program have yet to be finalized, even though Illinois will have to begin paying for it in its next budget.

Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s proposed spending plan doesn’t include the $22 million Secretary of State Jesse White has said he needs to start paying for it.

Blagojevich budget spokesman Justin DeJong said the budget could evolve.

“This is something we continue to look at,” he said.

The General Assembly’s action Thursday doesn’t affect how the state would implement the act because the resolution doesn’t carry legal weight. It was passed shortly after a resolution to honor Oprah Winfrey, and shortly before another urging that Chicago Cubs legend Ron Santo be inducted into the baseball Hall of Fame.

Montana and Washington state lawmakers, though, said this week they won’t participate in the Real ID act’s requirements – period. How residents there would get on planes is unclear.

Haupt says White wants to implement the act somehow and not cause residents hardship.

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Reader comments on this story - 10 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

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Mary wrote on Apr 21, 2007 11:33 AM:

" I applaud our Illinois Representatives for passing the resolution to repeal the Real ID Act. The Real ID is a national ID card that "would be supported with biometric data either stored on the card or given by the individual as the card is being used" (Hyde, K., Protecting Your Identity, March 19,2007). According to Hyde, biometric data can include your fingerprints, facial recongnition, iris scan or other measurements. This information can be downloaded from data bases into the hands of criminals for identity theft purposes. Criminals would have access to your fingerprints. The national ID card is unconstitutional. Contact your State Senators to also pass a resolution to repeal the Real ID Act. "

To: Disturbed: wrote on Apr 20, 2007 5:24 PM:

" Gee, if you're that worried about a national ID card, I really hope you don't have a passport, or a credit card, or a bank account, or a library card... "

Disturbed wrote on Apr 20, 2007 2:20 PM:

" Such a shame that a number of states have approved what amounts to surveillance and monitoring every movement of American citizens. I find it unnerving that still so few are completely outraged and that under the cloak of "national security interests" our own government gradually robs us of the liberties upon which the US was founded (and the freedoms so many struggled to obtain up to this very day). "

daydreamer wrote on Apr 20, 2007 10:19 AM:

" drivers lisenses in this country are a joke. i have 3 of them, and only 1 is truly legitimate... thankful i'm not a terrorist and i dont care to harm any one. but you would be suprised how easy it is to get a fake i.d., and once you have it, no one questions whether its real or not. "

BN Cynic wrote on Apr 20, 2007 8:33 AM:

" Goes along nicely with their support of "Driving Certificates" for illegals, doesn't it? Real ID opponents are nothing but illegal immigration proponents pretending to be privacy advocates. "

This wrote on Apr 20, 2007 8:11 AM:

" May be the only good thing I have seen the Illinois legislature trying to do for the last 10 years. Well I guess it is impossible to be wrong all of the time. "

Of course wrote on Apr 20, 2007 7:34 AM:

" they would back the repeal of this; you can't give illegals drivers licenses with this Real ID law in place! "

stock wrote on Apr 20, 2007 5:16 AM:

" This is great, now when, God forbid, something happens in Ill, by an illegal or terrorist, the democrats can blame Bush for that, too. The first thing out of their mouths will be, "How did he get into the Federal building in Peoria????" This is only going to cost the people who fly, or use the Federal building systemsj. I've flown twice in 20 and have never been in a Federal building.....now take those 2 factors to the other "common joe's" out there like me, and talley up the number of who this would affect. "

me wrote on Apr 20, 2007 4:10 AM:

" Sure is getting easier, and easier for big brother to know where you are and what your doing. "
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