Collins, Snowe take stand against Real ID

Maine’s two U.S. Senators, Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe, have signed on to a letter asking the Department of Homeland Security to exempt states from this year’s deadline to comply with Real ID rules, the Associated Press is reporting.

On May 11, a driver’s license will not qualify as legal identification at airports and federal buildings.

Maine is one of four states that have not complied, along with Montana, South Carolina and New Hampshire. Maine was the first state to pass a law last year barring participation.

Snowe and Collins spoke out against the new rules in January, and state Rep. Scott Lansley, R-Sabattus and the sponsor of the resolution barring participation, vowed to stand by the refusal.

Seven senators sent a letter to DHS Chief Michael Chertoff, calling the letter “arbitrary and ineffective.”

The Maine Civil Liberties Union praised the two senators for standing their ground on the issue.

“Senators Collins and Snowe publicly recognized that Homeland Security's May 11 deadline is both arbitrary and unfair," said Shenna Bellows, executive director of the MCLU. "We commend our senators for standing up on behalf of Mainers' privacy against the federal government's fear-mongering."