http://www.epic.org/alert/EPIC_Alert_14.22.html
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[2] Groups Urge Zero Funding for REAL ID System
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A number of organizations have joined to urge Congress against funding
the REAL ID national identification system. Congress passed REAL ID
without a hearing even though legislators in both parties urged debate.
Sen. Daniel Akaka and Sen. John Sununu have both said that they believe
REAL ID “places an unrealistic and unfunded burden on state governments
and erodes Americans’ civil liberties and privacy rights.”
In a letter, the groups said, “$50 million for REAL ID was appropriated
in the House. In the Senate, however, an amendment offered by Sen.
Alexander to add an additional $300 million was defeated by a bipartisan
majority. Earlier efforts to expand REAL ID as part of the Comprehensive
Immigration Reform bill were also rejected. We strongly urge the
Conference Committee to accept the Senate’s approach not to fund REAL
ID.” The groups also explained, “Furthermore, of the $40 million that
has been appropriated for REAL ID implementation so far, $34 million
remains unspent. [. . .] This year, New Hampshire returned its grant and
passed a law barring REAL ID participation by the state. If an
additional $50 million is appropriated, it is similarly likely to
languish in Washington rather than going to states that need it to
implement other desirable programs.”
There has been widespread public opposition to REAL ID. Seventeen states
have passed legislation rejecting the national identification system. In
May, 54 organizations representing trans-partisan, nonpartisan, privacy,
consumer, civil liberty, civil rights, and immigrant organizations
joined to launch a national campaign to solicit public comments to stop
REAL ID. The Department of Homeland Security received more than 12,000
comments on its draft implementation regulations for the REAL ID Act,
even though the comment process was marked with problems.
EPIC and 24 other privacy and technology experts jointly submitted
comments in May warning the federal agency not to go forward with the
REAL ID proposal. The group urged DHS to recommend to Congress that REAL
ID is unworkable and must be repealed. “The REAL ID Act creates an
illegal de facto national identification system filled with threats to
privacy, security and civil liberties that cannot be solved, no matter
what the implementation plan set out by the regulations,” the group
said.
Information on the Group Letter to Congress:
http://realnightmare.org/
Text of the REAL ID Act (pdf):
http://www.epic.org/privacy/id_cards/real_id_act.pdf
Comments of EPIC and 24 Experts in Privacy and Technology (pdf):
http://www.epic.org/privacy/id_cards/epic_realid_comments.pdf
Stop REAL ID Campaign site:
http://www.privacycoalition.org/stoprealid
EPIC’s Page on National ID Cards and REAL ID Act:
http://www.epic.org/privacy/id_cards/
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When I look through my pocket Constitution, I fail to find anywhere where the Federal gooferment is authorized to do this. Hence, I suggest that we all tell them “no”.
Sigh!
Remember Fascist Germany, Communist Russia, and all the dictatorships where “papers are required”.
It’s another step on the road to the camps. Think it can’t happen here? What about the Japanese Internment? What about all the “experiments” on unwitting victims? What about out present state of “airports”? America has no magic “immunity” token like on Survivor that prevents the gooferment from doing bad things to us.
You are already a partial slave. (taxes, fees, and inflation) This just moves along to finishing the job!
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Posted by reinkefj 
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