National ID, voter ID and restricting immigrants' rights - the push is on

[suffragette]

National and voter ID
As a nation, we have resisted any attempts to create a national ID card. Resistance to this idea crosses boundaries of political ideology. Straightforward attempts to create a national id card have been strongly opposed and thwarted. Now, what could not be
accomplished directly has been done through the back door.


At the end of the 108th congress, the National Intelligence Reform Act of 2004 (S.2845) was passed. Included in this large piece of legislation is a
provision which has established federal standards for state driver’s licenses and personal ID cards. By federalizing these standards and requiring states to
comply with them, this legislation has created the groundwork for a de facto national ID card .

The pertinent section is summarized here:
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d108:SN02845:@@@L&summ2=m&

(Sec. 7212) Requires the Secretary of Transportation
to establish minimum standards for driver's licenses
or personal identification cards issued by States for
use by Federal agencies for identification purposes,
following a negotiated rule-making process that
includes State representatives. Prohibits Federal
agencies from accepting nonconforming driver's
licenses or personal identification cards issued by a
State more than two years after promulgation of such
standards. Requires States to certify compliance with
such standards.

It is more completely described here:
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/cpquery/?&db_id=cp108&r_n=hr796.108&sel=TOC_641219&

However, even as troubling as this is, it is not enough for some.
Rep. Sensenbrenner (WI) had wanted more stringent requirements in the legislation, both in terms of regulating the driver’s licenses and of adding draconian measures against immigrants. He agreed to a deal to hold off on this and introduce them
separately. Also, his legislation would be put on a fast track. It has been put on that track and they are attempting to push it though this week. They debated
it today and may vote on it as soon as tomorrow, Thursday, Feb 10, 2005.

His bill, HR 418, the Real ID Act is terrifying. It gives even more control to the Homeland Security Secretary to oversee the standardization of the licenses and id’s, to link DMV databases, to force states to conform to this standardization (especially as regards not issuing licenses to undocumented immigrants) or risk
having their residents lose the ability to use these id’s for federal purposes (such as boarding planes, etc.) and to waive environmental laws to build barriers on the borders.

The sections pertaining to immigrants are chilling. People fleeing persecution would have to obtain "corroborating evidence" of their persecution, such as documentation from the government that was persecuting them.
ACLU notes that "Another provision of the REAL ID Act would make it possible to deport long-term, lawful, permanent residents for providing non-violent, humanitarian support to organizations labeled "terrorist" by the government. This provision would apply even when such support was completely legal at the time it was provided." http://www.aclu.org/SafeandFree/SafeandFree.cfm?ID=17446&c=206

Conyers is strongly opposing this bill and has posted information on the House Judiciary site at: http://www.house.gov/judiciary_democrats/realidact.html

Please contact your representatives to encourage them to oppose this.

There are other bills that will be introduced soon that also seek to make the standardized driver's licenses and ID card rules more stringent and centralized, among them a Senate companion bill to Sensenbrenner's and HR 368 from Rep. Tom Davis (VA), which is basically Sensenbrenner's bills without some of the additional punitive measures against immigrants.

At the same time these efforts to nationalize our ID system are being made, some states are having strong pushes made to institute new Voter ID laws. One of the fastest and strongest efforts is being made in Wisconsin. Yep, that's Sensenbrenner's home state. Under the new law, "voters would have to present a valid identification card issued by the military or the state or a Wisconsin driver's license before casting a ballot or registering on Election Day." http://www.wkowtv.com/$spindb.!query.1listnews.storeview.13951.news
This is much more restrictive than current requirements there or what HAVA requires.

So, why are these changes being pushed so fast and hard right now. I'm not sure, but I'm becoming concerned.

[Tux]

1. I would write my Rep

But he is an Evangelical Christian/Republician. So are my Senetors.

[suffragette]

2. you could try

It might be that he is one of the many who are supporting it, especially if he is a neocon. But the bill is so bad that many old school conservatives and libertarians are opposing it. Ron Paul, a Republican from Texas, has been particularly critical of the ID provisions.

[Land Shark]

3. World leader in the development of national ID cards is.....

the parent company of Sequoia Voting Systems, de La Rue.

de La Rue also received a lucrative contract from the US Defense Dept to print Iraqi dinars that restored de La Rue to profitability, and just days before that contract award succeeded in getting federal antitrust charges dropped against de La Rue (this was in 2003).

It may be that de La Rue is looking to expand their US govt. business. Besides the Iraqi currency project with the US, they currently print the currencies of 150 other countries. With that many clients, some of them antagonistic to each other, it must be hard for de la Rue to stay neutral?

In any event, to be in the currency business and national ID business, de La Rue must be able to sell itself as a corporation of absolute secrecy and security, because at the very least you can not have details of currency and ID design leaking out....

[suffragette]

4. And Diebold makes many of the smartcard and biometric

systems being used on college campuses as combo ID and cash cards.

Didn't know about the Sequoia Connection to ID cards before.
Thanks for that info.

Interesting how all this keeps leading back to the same corporations and people.

Coincidence? I don't think so.

[suffragette]

5. The House passed this today

The bill will now go to the Senate for approval.
We need to fight this before it is enacted.