Maine Holds Strong Against Real ID

Maine Continues the Fight Against Real ID

On Tuesday Maine's Governor John Baldacci issued a letter to the federal government asking that Maine travelers not be penalized for the state's refusal to comply with the seemingly fascist Real ID act.

In the letter to Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, Baldacci cited a state law which was passed largely in part due to a growing outcry from concerned citizenry in Maine which brought into question both privacy and civil rights concerns. The state law which was passed, prohibits the state of Maine from complying with the costly Real ID act. Gov. John Baldacci also noted in the letter however, that the Maine had made progress in meeting some of the requirements forced onto all the states in the Real ID act, and also asked that Mainers not be subjected to extra security or travel delays.

The U.S. department of Homeland Security set a deadline of March 31st for states to request a waiver granting them more time to submit to the Real ID act, which will require further restrictions for state-issued driver's licenses. The act was passed after the 9/11 attacks, and has received very little coverage from the corporate media to date. Just some of the so called "security" measures mentioned in the act include:

Overhauling existing state databases to be linked into a single, nation-wide system

Including a form of biometric identification on all IDs

Outfitting each card with a controversial RFID tracking chip

It even calls for potentially setting up random checkpoints across America, a move that is to many, reminiscent of Nazi Germany.

After May 11th, residents of Maine would be unable to use their Maine IDs to board airplanes, trains, open major bank accounts, or enter federal buildings.

Baldacci's letter also highlighted legislation co-sponsored by US Representative Tom Allen, D-Maine, which seeks to repeal Real ID and negotiate a new rule-making process. Allen also sent a similar letter to Chertoff voicing his concerns and efforts to repeal the unconstitutional Real ID.