Collins introduces bill to delay implementation of Real ID

[MaineDem]

PORTLAND, Maine — A senator from the state that´s leading the rebellion against a national driver´s license said Friday she will try to delay implementation of the program.

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, announced that she´ll sponsor the bill that would give states more time to comply with the Real ID Act as well as a say in modifying the rules.

The Maine Legislature was the first to oppose the Real ID Act. Critics said the program would cost Maine taxpayers $185 million in the first five years and invite identity theft.

"I am fully aware that the costs of complying with Real ID are enormous and overly burdensome to states, including Maine. I will be introducing this legislation so that we can pause and take a more measured approach to Real ID," Collins said in a statement after a Capitol Hill meeting with Maine Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap.

States currently have until May 2008 to comply with the federal law that sets a national standard for driver´s licenses and requires states to link their record-keeping systems to national databases. Driver´s licenses that fall short of the Real ID Act´s standards cannot be used to board an airplane, among other things.

http://news.mainetoday.com/apwire/D8N6BFPO1-39.html

Can you tell she's got a challenging opponent in the '08 election?

[rodeodance]

1. good start. Hope she has support. Next to ditch it completely

[mainegreen]

2. I think Real ID will just keep getting pushed back.

Eventually it might just go away.

[Robbien]

3. It cannot be changed. It is part of CAFTA

To change Real ID, you have to renegotiate CAFTA.

But I guess there really is no problem. What is Latin America going to do to us if we renege on our part of CAFTA.