MCLU supports people’s veto efforts for driver’s license laws

Recently Maine caved in to the federal government, implementing legislation taking steps to comply with the federal Real ID act. State officials did so hesitantly, offering the bare minimum to be in compliance, thus getting an extension to meet further requirements.

Donna Bendiksen of Portland and Kathleen McGee of Bowdoinham have both submitted people’s veto applications to repeal the act, saying that the law represents the first step toward guaranteed full compliance with the law.

They have submitted separate applications, but are working together. They need to gather 55,087 signatures before the veto can move forward.

They did this independently, but the Maine Civil Liberties Union has their back.

The law, designed to increase the security of driver’s licenses, requires proof of legal residency – a means to keep illegal immigrants from getting licenses. The bill passed with much opposition in the Legislature last month.

Without this extension, Mainers’ driver’s licenses would not have been good at airports and federal buildings, and residents would have had to undergo extra security checks.

The MCLU

Shenna Bellows, executive director of the MCLU, said the organization did not play a part in the people’s veto proposals but will support them.

At a MCLU dinner Thursday night, Caroline Fredrickson, director of the American Civil Liberties Union’s Washington legislative office, urged people to sign the petition.

Frederickson said the federal Real ID law was a piece of legislation slipped into another bill in the middle of the night in 2005. It repealed a bill that Maine Sen. Susan Collins had worked on which implemented negotiated rulemaking for driver’s licenses. It included the stakeholders in the conversation.

Maine was the first state to reject any effort to implement a national ID card.

“Maine’s rejection of Real ID set the stage for a national revolt in which 18 states have passed legislation opposing the program with more expected to follow suit,” Fredrickson said in her address.

She praised Maine’s congressional delegation for opposing the national law. Most recently coming around is U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, who voiced concern at a hearing last week.

U.S. Rep. Tom Allen, who is challenging Collins for her seat, submitted legislation to repeal the federal bill. With 35 cosponsors, it has been referred to the Oversight and Government Reform Committee and the Judiciary Committee.

“The hard work of the MCLU and all of you in the audience is having an effect in the halls of Congress,” Fredrickson said. “Sen. Collins, who sits on the Homeland Security Committee, and once a vocal proponent of Real ID, expressed real concerns and criticisms of the program in that hearing. It was wonderful to be one of the panelists and see all of the senators go after the administration witnesses and treat the rest of us civil liberties panelists with kid gloves. It was a real sea of change.”

The petitioners

Both women said they have received lots of interest from around the state.

McGee, who has a history of working on social justice issues, fought the state law in the Legislature.

She said Maine’s law is just the first step in what will be eventually be full compliance with the Real ID law, which many see as a threat to people’s personal security.

“This is a cliff,” McGee said. “When we fall there will be no turning back. After giving it a lot of consideration, a people’s veto will be our best chance.”

She said she isn’t concerned about the implications if Maine doesn’t comply. She said it would be illegal for the federal government to implement the proposed consequences.

“I am more than happy to test the law,” she said.

Bendiksen, who is running for state House District 115 as a “Ron Paul” Republican, said she is concerned about the possible errors and security breaches that could happen under Real ID’s central database of people’s information. Furthermore, it doesn’t solve illegal immigration problems, she said.

The technology proposed is intrusive, she said, and could have the ability to track where people are at any time.

“It’s not going to fix anything they say they’re going to fix,” she said. “They really want to track us all like animals.”

She also isn’t concerned about the implications if Maine’s law is repealed.

“States’ rights are supposed to supersede federal government rights,” she said. “The government cannot impose a federal law on us.”