State of Maine Wins First Battle Against National ID Campaign

The United States government is trying to pass the Real ID act of 2005 in which all states would link their driving information together and be required to meet federal driving standards. The government want to establish this act in hopes of further curving terrorism. They feel that terrorists can easily receive identification from other states and that a national ID program will stop this from happening.

States are beginning to fight back against this plan though. Many see it as an invasion of privacy and that the program will cost too much. Currently the program is planned to cost $11 billion to begin, a number that could most likely grow before the program is fully developed. The State of Maine does not like this concept one bit. They have showed their displeasure by overwhelmingly passing a resolution objecting to the Real ID act of 2005.

Many other States have taken notice to what Maine is doing. Lawmakers in Georgia, Wyoming, New Mexico, Vermont, Washington, and Montana are working on ways to show their displeasure towards this new act as well. Just like Maine, they are concerned how this new act will affect privacy issues and how the cost will further put the United States in even more debt.

Currently, States will have to comply by May 2008. When the program starts, only passengers with this type of identification will be allowed to board flights and take part in national programs and other means of travel. State lawmakers believe that this program does nothing to stop terrorism and the concept terrorism is only being used to help get the identification program passed.

As more and more states step forward to state their displeasure, the government will prepare to fight back. The government truly feels that this form of identification will help protect us from outside intruders. Others feel as if the identification will become another burden on citizens and is a waste of money. The battle has just begun and the gloves are off.