Last-minute attempts by online activists to halt an electronic ID card failed Tuesday when the U.S. Senate unanimously voted to impose a sweeping set of identification requirements on Americans.
The so-called Real ID Act now heads to President Bush, who is expected to sign the bill into law this month. Its backers, including the Bush administration, say it's needed to stop illegal immigrants from obtaining drivers' licenses.
If the act's mandates take effect in May 2008, as expected, Americans will be required to obtain federally approved ID cards with "machine readable technology" that abides by Department of Homeland Security specifications. Anyone without such an ID card will be effectively prohibited from traveling by air or Amtrak, opening a bank account, or entering federal buildings.
After the Real ID Act's sponsors glued it to an Iraq military spending bill, final passage was all but guaranteed. Yet that didn't stop a dedicated cadre of privacy activists from trying to raise the alarm in the last few days.
Full Story @ CNET News.com
How about we stop illegal's from coming across the boarder instead of punishing Americans? Just a thought.
Posted by Muddy at May 11, 2005 09:54 AM | TrackBackFunny, I had posted a comment here. Erased ?
Any way. How you guys doing ?
Naw, no one has erased it. I'm doing well, I'm enjoying my little deployment to sunny california.
Posted by: skywalker at May 13, 2005 08:00 PMSky:
"I'm enjoying my little deployment to sunny california."
Oh? I thought you hated it out there.:-) But it's nice to see you were able to find some time to check in.:-)
DF:
"How you guys doing ?"
Busy - as I'm sure is everyone else these days (which is why the board has been a little slow and boring lately:-) IMHO.). But we're good....You? Btw...I have no idea what post you're talking about (other than the one above), though I'm quite certain if there was another one, it was at least a paragraph long.:-)
Posted by: mrs. muddy at May 13, 2005 11:48 PMAs far as this article goes.... I understand the intentions behind it but no good. I agree with muddy:
"How about we stop illegal's from coming across the boarder instead of punishing Americans?"
Like, for starters letting the minute men continue with the seemingly good job they have volunteered to do. Any other ideas from the peanut gallery?
Posted by: mrs. muddy at May 13, 2005 11:59 PM