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Money for REAL ID program not in state budget
By Mike Riopell
mike.riopell@lee.net
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SPRINGFIELD -- The new Illinois budget does not contain money to pay for a federal law requiring all state driver's licenses to meet national standards, a spokesman for Secretary of State Jesse White said Monday.

The Real ID Act would require anyone who wanted to board an airplane or enter a federal building to have an identification card that met new national standards.

The hope is that tougher ID requirements could prevent terrorist attacks or other security problems.

States have to run the program, and many state officials across the country criticized the federal government for Real ID. They say it's not putting up enough money for the new program or giving them enough time to set it up.

Illinois lawmakers joined the critical chorus this spring, which is why Secretary of State spokesman Henry Haupt said it's not surprising they didn't vote to pay for the new program.

Haupt estimates the state will need $22 million this year to start the program, and $150 million in the next five years.

The Real ID program was supposed to start in May of next year, but that date could get pushed back at least in part because of the numerous complaints from states.

Now, Haupt said, it's not clear how the state will pay for the program. He says they'll have to wait and study the Department of Homeland Security's finalized policies before deciding how to go forward.

''I think every state is in a holding pattern to some extent,'' he said.

Gov. Rod Blagojevich approved the state budget last week, but not before cutting $463 million in hopes of using that money to expand health care programs.

The $22 million for Real ID wasn't part of those cuts. It wasn't in the budget approved by lawmakers to begin with.

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Reader comments on this story - 9 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.

The Joker wrote on Aug 28, 2007 1:51 PM:

" I already have a real ID. No, not the federaly mandated one, but a valid ID non the less. So this is supposed to help prevent identity fraud? When was the last time you presented your credit/debit card for payment ANYWHERE and were asked for a photo ID? So now we all get a new "real ID". Would someone please explain to me how this is going to help reduce identity theft? Are retailers going to install retenal and/or fingerprint scanners to compare these new fangled IDs to the person presenting them? Why don't we just tattoo a number on the wrist of everyone (been done before, not real popular) and make sure we have everyone properly registered? "

No one cares anymore wrote on Aug 28, 2007 9:11 AM:

" Do this is no longer a driver's license but a federally sanctioned ID. I cannot driver anything with it while using it for the purposed stated so it is, in fact, a nationalized ID. Which the Bush administration said they would not do. I don't care about this, a passport is just as good. It's just that I'm not even sure if the president's name is George at this point. Nothing they say ever holds true and it just does't matter anymore when the speak because no one believes them. This is such as sad state of affairs, usually reserved for countries we consider "tyrannical". "

LOL wrote on Aug 28, 2007 8:47 AM:

" LOL at all the conspiracy nuts and jesus freaks. The Real ID was about preventing ID theft and discouraging illegal immigration and was the one good thing that the Republican Congress passed. Face it, in the modern world you need an ID and the stronger the ID the better. I don't want some illegal alien claiming he's me and getting me in trouble with the IRS or some bank. "

Bluegrass American wrote on Aug 28, 2007 7:41 AM:

" If Blago could get the money out of medicare parts A and B he would have it covered in the state budget. "

John wrote on Aug 27, 2007 11:57 PM:

" John wrote and sang "I am the walrus" I know you all were curious. "

the (infamous) "Mark" wrote on Aug 27, 2007 10:40 PM:

" written thousands of years ago. The book of Revelation. You know, "mark in the right hand, forehead". National ID requires a fingerprint and an eyescan. It's getting close, ("indeed"). "

Mr Farmer City wrote on Aug 27, 2007 8:34 PM:

" Yes, it is on it's way. Gold, guns and a Good Book. Maybe Al Gore was right. "

Just A Guy wrote on Aug 27, 2007 6:22 PM:

" What is on the way? Are you talking the rapture again? Get over it. So Washington wants all the states to have similar features on all state driver licenses, big deal. Why not just have a United States ID and be done with it? Instead of over 100 different types of licenses out there (at least two in each state, sometimes three or four), just have five kinds of licenses for the whole nation. Allow the states to make license plates, but, have the feds make personal IDs. Just remember, the rapture is NOT coming. "

"right hand", (fingerprint) "forehead", (eyescan). wrote on Aug 27, 2007 5:47 PM:

" .Gold, guns and a Good Book, (King James Authorized Version of 1611). It's on it's way. "
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