Real ID

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 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 Legislature’s Transportation Committee is hearing a bill to make changes to Maine’s driver’s license laws, in order to comply with the Department of Homeland Security’s requests in regards to the Real ID Act. Listen in here.

The proposed bill would do the following:

The Department of Homeland Security is giving Maine a couple of extra days to make its decision on Real ID.

According to a DHS statement:

Following lengthy discussions today with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, Senator Susan Collins, who is Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, announced that Maine will have two additional days to apply for a REAL ID extension. Secretary Chertoff agreed to Senator Collins' request to give the state until 5 PM on Wednesday, April 2nd to respond.

The Maine Legislature passed a resolution last year barring the state from participating in a national ID program. Pursuant to the resolution Maine will not make a request for an extension in meeting Real ID standards, according to Gov. John Baldacci’s office.

Gov. John Baldacci and U.S. Rep. Tom Allen sent letters to U.S. Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff Tuesday, calling on the department to give Maine a break on the penalties for not participating in the Real ID act.

For some really interesting reason—that I have already forgotten ---involving an uncomfortable partnership with liberals and libertarians, Maine has refused to ask for an extension to the Real ID law.

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.