License to Kill Real ID
Despite a federal extension to comply with the Real ID Act, the federal law that establishes national standards for securing the issuance of driver’s licenses, many governors have balked at the costs of implementing the post-9/11 law, which supporters say is necessary to defend against terrorist attacks. American City & County asked the readers of its weekly e-mail newsletter if they think Real ID should be repealed. Below are some of the responses.
“I agree that Real ID needs to be repealed. The cost to the states to comply with Real ID is extremely high and not funded with federal dollars. Therefore, states would have to come up with the funding from already austere budgets. This cost would be passed on to taxpayers in the form of higher fees for driver’s licenses.”
— Eileen King, Riley County, Kan., treasurer
“Real ID is necessary, [but,] at the same time, the [cost of] infrastructure upgrades and personnel training should be shared between [the Department of Homeland Security] and the states.”
— Paul Speer, president, MFCS, Buffalo Grove, Ill.
“No, Real ID should not be repealed and anyone who thinks it should is simply against doing what we can to make this country safe. It’s the best way to know who should be here and who shouldn’t. Driver’s licenses are [this country’s] primary form of ID.”
— Stephanie Foil, senior designer, The Design Department, Norcross, Ga.
“I cannot see any reason for the abrogation of states’ rights for this federal foolishness.”
— Walter Spiegel, senior business analyst, DecisionPath Consulting, Gaithersburg, Md.
