← Autodidact Archive · Original Dissent · Sertorius
Thread ID: 16690 | Posts: 22 | Started: 2005-02-10
2005-02-10 12:55 | User Profile
Action Alert
Calling/Faxing Blitz Needed Now Through Thursday to get REAL ID Act Approved
The House of Representatives is scheduled to take up Rep. Sensenbrenner's REAL ID Act (H.R. 418) this WEDNESDAY, with a vote likely THURSDAY, FEB.10. (See below for details.)
Help get this vital homeland security/immigration reform legislation passed in its entirety by calling and faxing your legislators now through Thursday. Action Needed Now through Thursday: SEND FREE FAXES...Type your zip code into the take action now box to send a free, editable fax to your legislators urging a yes vote and immediate enactment of H.R.418.
BURN UP CONGESSIONAL PHONE LINES...Follow up you faxes with phone calls and emails reiterating your support for the REAL ID Act. Find your elected officials contact information here on our web site or call the capitol switchboard (House - 202-225-3121; Senate - 202-224-3121) and ask to be connected. (See below for talking points.)
SPREAD THE WORD...forward this to others and urge them to take action. Sample Message to House Representatives: "As your constituent, I strongly urge you to vote YES for House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Sensenbrenner's (R-WI) REAL ID Act, H.R. 418. Please support H.R. 418 in its entirety and oppose all amendments to water down this important legislation.
If enacted, H.R. 418 will keep driver's licenses and state ID cards out of the hands of illegal aliens and the terrorists among them, prevent terrorists from easily gaining political asylum, bar entry of aliens with ties to terrorist groups, and improve security along our borders. These reforms were specifically called for by the 9/11 Commission and are critically important to the work of defending our nation from terrorists.
Help protect America...vote in favor of the REAL ID Act, oppose all efforts to dilute this vital homeland security legislation, and see that these reforms are enacted and implemented immediately." Sample Message to Senators: "As your constituent, I strongly urge you to support provisions to implement recommendations of the 9/11 Commission that are expected to be approved by the House as part of the Iraq/Afghanistan military supplemental appropriation bill.
These provisions, authored by Judiciary Committee Chairman Sensenbrenner (R-WI), would implement 9/11 Commission recommendations on standards for issuing driver's licenses and identity documents, preventing terrorists from gaining political asylum in the U.S., bar entry of aliens with ties to terrorist groups, and improved security along our borders.
When the House sends over this legislation do not allow these provisions to be stripped from the bill or otherwise diluted by the addition of any amnesty, guest worker, or other liberalizing immigration provision.
Preventing terrorist from entering our country and then blending in to the vast and diverse fabric of our nation is every bit as important as infiltrating terrorist networks overseas.
These provisions were specifically called for by the 9/11 Commission, and the important work of defending our nation from terrorists will not be complete until all of these recommendations are enacted and implemented." Legislative Details: On January 26, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI) and 115 cosponsors introduced the REAL ID Act (H.R. 418).
This homeland security/immigration reform legislation will keep driver's licenses and state ID cards out of the hands of illegal aliens and the terrorists among them, prevent terrorists from gaining political asylum in the U.S., bar entry of aliens with ties to terrorist groups, make it easier to deport terrorists, and improve security along our borders by closing a three mile gap in a border fence along the San Diego/Mexico border.
Open-border advocates continue to fight Sensenbrenner's efforts, putting special interests ahead of immigration enforcement and homeland security. In fact, we have learned that amendments may be offered during House consideration to water-down some of the vital reforms in the REAL ID act, namely, the asylum reforms.
The House is scheduled to take up H.R. 418 this Wednesday, with a vote likely Thursday, Feb. 10.
If approved, House leadership has promised to attach H.R.418 to the next must-pass bill, which will likely be the military supplemental spending bill for Iraq and Afghanistan.
Once that bill is cleared by the House, including the contents of H.R. 418, it will be sent on to the Senate where strong resistance is expected.
For more information and additional talking points, read our press release, House Judiciary Chairman Sensenbrenner Introduces Bill to Complete Homeland Security Reform.
[url]www.fairus.org[/url] (202) 328-7004
Alright, you lurkers. Forget about what Sean, Bill and the rest of the nattering nabobs are saying about Ward Churchill. The main reason these "[I]professional patriots[/I]" are so concerned and are devoting so much air time to this idiot is to focus your attention on this and not [B]H.R. 418[/B], which is a hell of a lot more important than anything Churchill may say or be involved with. You never heard of H.R. 418? That's what you get for relying on Limbaugh and company for your "news". You only get what they want you to know, which is damn little.
H.R. 418 will probably pass the house. The Senate is where the main problem lies, starting with the spineless Bill Frist. Frist is acting like he wants to delay a vote as long as possible, if even allow it to come to the floor. He has a lot of company here. These clowns in the Senate need to receive a lot of mail so as to know that they should fear the voters more than the cheap laborcrats of Wall Street. Turn off the radio and get on their butts with those letters. One snail mail letter is the equivalent of 500 e-mails and will be taken more seriously than an e-mail. It is also better than a phone call.
2005-02-11 01:46 | User Profile
H.R. 418 passed the House today. Now you lurkers, get on your senators and Frist as well. Tom Tancredo asks for this assistance. Jorge and Frist will try to bury this bill.
2005-02-11 13:15 | User Profile
Another Victory For Immigration Reform [Bryanna Bevens] - 02/10/05 By a vote of 261 to 161, Congress overwhelmingly passed HR 418 the REAL ID ACT.
HR 418:
Gives immigration enforcement officers and judges additional tools to expeditiously deport illegal aliens Expedites the construction of a security fence along the U.S.-Mexico border Sets minimum standards for Driver's Licenses and identification cards (i.e. U.S. Citizens only)
In a press release from Team America:
"Today, the House of Representatives took a small step toward keeping faith with the families of victims of September 11th by acting to implement what are perhaps the most important recommendations that the 9/11 Commission made," said Tancredo, chairman of the House Immigration Reform Caucus. "This bill today represents possibly the most significant improvement of border security and immigration law in nearly a decade."
42 Democrats crossed the aisle to lend their support for this much needed security bill. 8 Republicans voted against HR 418. Click [url=http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2005/roll031.xml]here[/url] to see the roll call.
[url]http://www.vdare.com/blog/index.htm[/url]
2005-02-11 15:38 | User Profile
Not sure what to make of Ron Paul's position on HR 418. There is an amount of hyperbole here; for example, the current state of RFID technology would not allow tracking of individuals at all times, only point-to-point (which is not accceptable either, but it isn't the total Big Brother Paul seems to imply). Over the top or not, I'm opposed to any creation of a national federal database- or more of them, I guess I should say- especially those that will be tapped by "companies" like Amdocs and Comverse. Additionally, developments in biometrics and applications such as RFID could turn this ID into something worse than what Paul imagines in time.
Hard to say which would be the greater good. It is interesting to note that little notice is being given to the defunding of thousands of border control jobs, and that the technology currently available to monitor desolate sections of the border is also unfunded and ignored. Closing the border is the fundamental answer, and while I am totally in favor of denying illegal aliens any sort of recognition I'm also in favor of rejecting any sort of national ID.
[url]http://www.house.gov/paul/congrec/congrec2005/cr020905.htm[/url]
HON. RON PAUL OF TEXAS BEFORE THE US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 9, 2005
HR 418- A National ID Bill Masquerading as Immigration Reform
Mr. Speaker:
I rise in strong opposition to HR 418, the REAL ID Act. This bill purports to make us safer from terrorists who may sneak into the United States, and from other illegal immigrants. While I agree that these issues are of vital importance, this bill will do very little to make us more secure. It will not address our real vulnerabilities. It will, however, make us much less free. In reality, this bill is a Trojan horse. It pretends to offer desperately needed border control in order to stampede Americans into sacrificing what is uniquely American: our constitutionally protected liberty.
What is wrong with this bill?
The REAL ID Act establishes a national ID card by mandating that states include certain minimum identification standards on driverââ¬â¢s licenses. It contains no limits on the governmentââ¬â¢s power to impose additional standards. Indeed, it gives authority to the Secretary of Homeland Security to unilaterally add requirements as he sees fit.
Supporters claim it is not a national ID because it is voluntary. However, any state that opts out will automatically make non-persons out of its citizens. The citizens of that state will be unable to have any dealings with the federal government because their ID will not be accepted. They will not be able to fly or to take a train. In essence, in the eyes of the federal government they will cease to exist. It is absurd to call this voluntary.
Republican Party talking points on this bill, which claim that this is not a national ID card, nevertheless endorse the idea that ââ¬Åthe federal government should set standards for the issuance of birth certificates and sources of identification such as driverââ¬â¢s licenses.ââ¬Â So they admit that they want a national ID but at the same time pretend that this is not a national ID.
This bill establishes a massive, centrally-coordinated database of highly personal information about American citizens: at a minimum their name, date of birth, place of residence, Social Security number, and physical and possibly other characteristics. What is even more disturbing is that, by mandating that states participate in the ââ¬ÅDrivers License Agreement,ââ¬Â this bill creates a massive database of sensitive information on American citizens that will be shared with Canada and Mexico!
This bill could have a chilling effect on the exercise of our constitutionally guaranteed rights. It re-defines "terrorism" in broad new terms that could well include members of firearms rights and anti-abortion groups, or other such groups as determined by whoever is in power at the time. There are no prohibitions against including such information in the database as information about a personââ¬â¢s exercise of First Amendment rights or about a personââ¬â¢s appearance on a registry of firearms owners.
This legislation gives authority to the Secretary of Homeland Security to expand required information on driverââ¬â¢s licenses, potentially including such biometric information as retina scans, finger prints, DNA information, and even Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) radio tracking technology. Including such technology as RFID would mean that the federal government, as well as the governments of Canada and Mexico, would know where Americans are at all time of the day and night.
There are no limits on what happens to the database of sensitive information on Americans once it leaves the United States for Canada and Mexico - or perhaps other countries. Who is to stop a corrupt foreign government official from selling or giving this information to human traffickers or even terrorists? Will this uncertainty make us feel safer?
What will all of this mean for us? When this new program is implemented, every time we are required to show our driverââ¬â¢s license we will, in fact, be showing a national identification card. We will be handing over a card that includes our personal and likely biometric information, information which is connected to a national and international database.
H.R. 418 does nothing to solve the growing threat to national security posed by people who are already in the U.S. illegally. Instead, H.R. 418 states what we already know: that certain people here illegally are "deportable." But it does nothing to mandate deportation.
Although Congress funded an additional 2,000 border guards last year, the administration has announced that it will only ask for an additional 210 guards. Why are we not pursuing these avenues as a way of safeguarding our country? Why are we punishing Americans by taking away their freedoms instead of making life more difficult for those who would enter our country illegally?
H.R. 418 does what legislation restricting firearm ownership does. It punishes law-abiding citizens. Criminals will ignore it. H.R. 418 offers us a false sense of greater security at the cost of taking a gigantic step toward making America a police state.
I urge my colleagues to vote ââ¬ÅNOââ¬Â on the REAL ID Act of 2005.
2005-02-11 16:21 | User Profile
[QUOTE=weisbrot]...I'm also in favor of rejecting any sort of national ID.[/QUOTE]
Don't we already have one with the Social Security #? As it stands now, before the mexican national's hair is dry from the swim across the Rio Grande, he's already at the local flea market buying a fake SS card. Presto! Now he can work at any know-nothing American employer who needs the cheap labor.
I used to be opposed to a national ID card back in my more paleo-libertarian days, but in reality it's really a moot issue at this point. Anybody who wants to obtain info on you can do so pretty easily, especially our friends in the fedgov.
2005-02-11 19:29 | User Profile
Man, Tex, ever since you got those three 6's tattooed into your skull while listening to Dio you've been coming out with some great ideas. Rock on, dude.
Agree that the SS is currently a de facto national ID. There's still grounds to reject it as such, as far fetched as it might be now. That said, I see no reason to submit to the "If you haven't anything to hide why worry?" line of thought- especially given the many options and powers such a formal national ID would give to the federal government and it's ownership.
2005-02-11 19:42 | User Profile
[QUOTE=weisbrot]Man, Tex, ever since you got those three 6's tattooed into your skull while listening to Dio you've been coming out with some great ideas. Rock on, dude.
Alright, alright. Uncle! I changed the sig. Y'all are brutal. :)
Agree that the SS is currently a de facto national ID. There's still grounds to reject it as such, as far fetched as it might be now. That said, I see no reason to submit to the "If you haven't anything to hide why worry?" line of thought- especially given the many options and powers such a formal national ID would give to the federal government and it's ownership.[/QUOTE]
You're right in the sense that the true end result of a national ID card will be that much greater personal privacy given up without any return from the Feds or improvement in the problem it was meant to fix. So to my mind, that continues to be the biggest knock against it. However, in principle I would not have a problem with it as long as it actually did fix the problem of illegals in our midst. 'Course here in the real world we know it won't, so we're really just talking semantics.
2005-02-11 19:50 | User Profile
Ron Paul's reasonble objections aside, I still want to see this bill push, not only because of its provisions to keep illegals from driving and using a license to vote, but also for bringing illegal immigration to the forfront of debate. It has the potential to really smoke out in the open the cockroaches who oppose this in the Republican party and the "business community" for all to see.
2005-02-11 19:57 | User Profile
[QUOTE=Texas Dissident]Alright, alright. Uncle! I changed the sig. Y'all are brutal. :)
Dang! I was hoping you'd try: [I][FONT=Century Gothic]Welcome to sun down, welcome to the dark Could it be that evil has heroes Bring everybody down - Celebration Passing of the light Giving up your spirit to the night[/FONT][/I]
Sometimes it's hard to spot true ecumenical opportunities, 'specially when your skull is rotating through 360 degrees. It was a valiant effort...
You're right in the sense that the true end result of a national ID card will be that much greater personal privacy given up without any return from the Feds or improvement in the problem it was meant to fix. So to my mind, that continues to be the biggest knock against it. However, in principle I would not have a problem with it as long as it actually did fix the problem of illegals in our midst. 'Course here in the real world we know it won't, so we're really just talking semantics.[/QUOTE]
Yessir.
The only way to fix the problem of illegals in our midst is to remove them, and remove the means for them to enter in the first place. I think this bill could be a misdirection, because what would it actually solve? Paul's comparison of this legislation to gun control is quite apt, to my mind.
2005-02-11 20:06 | User Profile
[QUOTE=Sertorius]Ron Paul's reasonble objections aside, I still want to see this bill push, not only because of its provisions to keep illegals from driving and using a license to vote, but also for bringing illegal immigration to the forfront of debate. It has the potential to really smoke out in the open the cockroaches who oppose this in the Republican party and the "business community" for all to see.[/QUOTE]
Scuttling cockroaches (and a big shoe coming down) is a great image, and hopefully this will be one result. But why not work towards real change instead of punishing citizens? We know the answer to that one.
There should be no drivers licenses for illegals. More importantly, there should be no illegals. The way to smoke out the Republican and Democrat is to insist they deal with enforcement and strengthening of existing laws, and to accept nothing less than deportation and closing of the borders to illegal and unchecked legal entry.
2005-02-11 20:11 | User Profile
Weisbrot,
Amen to that. I consider what Sensenbrenner is trying to do as a first step towards a long term solution like the one you outline. One good effect of this bill is that folks are talking about this issue, including those who would rather not see it brought up for the potential to focus attention on some of the other things they are promoting.
2005-02-11 20:21 | User Profile
[QUOTE=weisbrot]Scuttling cockroaches (and a big shoe coming down) is a great image, and hopefully this will be one result. But why not work towards real change instead of punishing citizens? We know the answer to that one.
There should be no drivers licenses for illegals. More importantly, there should be no illegals. The way to smoke out the Republican and Democrat is to insist they deal with enforcement and strengthening of existing laws, and to accept nothing less than deportation and closing of the borders to illegal and unchecked legal entry.[/QUOTE]
This reminds me of the purists' arguments against attainable private school vouchers, arguing against same because it will allow the feds to get into private schools, etc. and for the pipedream of ending public schooling or somesuch. Meanwhile, I continue to go more and more broke paying public school taxes while also paying not-cheap private school tuition for my children.
This aint a life at conception kinda issue, so I see no need for purity in techniques here. Does anyone think the feds can't get all the info they want on any citizen right now? Sure they can, so maybe this thing will at least help break the back of the pro-illegal immigrant movement, and if it does then that's a good thing in my book.
2005-02-11 21:50 | User Profile
[QUOTE=Texas Dissident]This reminds me of the purists' arguments against attainable private school vouchers, arguing against same because it will allow the feds to get into private schools, etc. and for the pipedream of ending public schooling or somesuch. Meanwhile, I continue to go more and more broke paying public school taxes while also paying not-cheap private school tuition for my children.
This aint a life at conception kinda issue, so I see no need for purity in techniques here. Does anyone think the feds can't get all the info they want on any citizen right now? Sure they can, so maybe this thing will at least help break the back of the pro-illegal immigrant movement, and if it does then that's a good thing in my book.[/QUOTE]
Somewhat agreed on the vouchers issue, but I'll hold final judgement until my son comes home from his church school carrying his federally mandated and certified Tolerance Achievement Form, signed by Marcellus Browntoast and Farnsworth Wristflap of the federally mandated Diversity Department. Then I'll be satisifed that I've done everything to make it possible for all good chilluns to be edumacated by unsullied private skools.
Besides, this is apples to oranges. I see no reason to facilitate the fedgov's rampant data collection efforts. If you think they can find out anything they really want to now- and they can- wait until you find yourself voluntarily locked in the box of a centralized formal database, complete with deluxe case management features voted for by your duly elected representative. This bill authorizes some awesome powers linked right smack to this federal ID; although the information available right now is astounding (and your fault; I know you buy Red Man at Winn-Dixie using their customer affinity card) the amount of information and ease of access will dwarf anything available today once we good sheep authorize it.
2005-02-11 22:02 | User Profile
[QUOTE=weisbrot]I know you buy Red Man at Winn-Dixie using their customer affinity card)[/QUOTE]
Actually, that would be at my local pakistani stop-n-rob, a couple of blocks down the road. What can I say, it's always fresh there. :)
2005-02-11 23:35 | User Profile
No one has the privacy they think they do. For $30, a background searching company can send information, in less than 5 minutes, on every job you've ever had, all your previous home addresses and phone numbers, who your neighbors are and were for the previous 10 years, plus your credit rating and all your outstanding debts. And this is a private entity. No telling what the fedgov can do.
As far as a national ID, truck drivers have had them for years. They are all reported to a national data base and along with any and all transgressions you've ever had. Now, the fedgov requires fingerprinting if you have a HASMAT endorsement. Privacy? It's a joke. And has been for a long time.
2005-02-12 02:27 | User Profile
[url]http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=42801[/url]
If "The REAL ID Act of 2005" passes the senate and is signed into law, incoming Sec. of Homeland Security, J-w Michael Chertoff, will be able to "waive all laws".
[QUOTE] from Section 102 of the REAL ID Act of 2005
"Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall have the [color=Red]authority to waive, and shall waive, all laws such Secretary, in such Secretary's sole discretion[/color], determines necessary to ensure expeditious construction of the barriers and roads under this section."[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE] Significantly, it also says courts are prohibited from reviewing the secretary's decision.
"The secretary, under a strict reading, [color=Red]could waive any law and conceivably detain people, wiretap -- the list would go on and on of the laws that could be waived[/color]."[/QUOTE]
2005-02-12 02:42 | User Profile
Hey, c'mon- the feds already know everything anyway. (tm) What's the problem with letting them have a bit more rope-they'll just get it anyway.(tm) And what is there to worry about if you don't have anything to hide?(tm)
See here, they've already got a knife at our throats. What's the big deal over giving them a pistol to finish the job? Eh?
2005-02-12 03:05 | User Profile
Barr Issues Statement Generally in Support of Sensenbrenner Driver's License Bill Expresses Concerns Over Database Linking and RFID Chips
Thursday, January 27, 2005 at 3:00 PM
Former Member of Congress Bob Barr (R-GA) today issued a statement generally supporting legislation introduced January 26th by House Judiciary Chairman James Sensenbrenner (R-WI) and co-sponsored by some 115 other House Members.
Barr praised the legislation which, if enacted, would replace provisions included in 9-11 Commission Recommendations Legislation passed by the Congress and signed into law by President Bush in December 2004. Barr opposed the 2004 legislation because, among other defects, it would have ââ¬Åclearly resulted in a national identification card micro-managed by the federal government.ââ¬Â According to Barr, the new proposal is much preferable, because it ââ¬Åsets general standards designed to attack the primary federal problem at issue here -- preventing persons illegally in the country from obtaining driver's licenses -- without micro-managing the affairs of the 50 states.ââ¬Â
However, Barr did express concern with two provisions in the proposed legislation -- one that would require all states to link their driver's license databases into a massive, national database with no restrictions on what information went into it, and who or what other entities could access it; and another provision that would open the door to require RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) chips be included in any driver's license. Barr expressed hope that ââ¬ÅCongress, in conducting hearing on the legislation, and before final passage thereof, takes a hard look at these sections and place strict limitations on the size of any such database, the data that would be included therein, and who can have access thereto. He also urged that the provision opening the door to RFID chips in driver's licenses be deleted, because such devices can be monitored remotely and surreptitiously, whether one is a law-abiding US citizen or a non-citizen in the country unlawfully.ââ¬Â
Barr said that both these provisions raise ââ¬Åsubstantial and substantive privacy concerns and are unnecessary to achieve the central benefits of the legislation.ââ¬Â
Barr also expressed support for the provision in the bill that would remove arbitrary obstacles in other federal laws and regulations -- such as endangered species or wetlands restrictions -- that have thus far hampered implementation of the border barriers between California and Mexico.
Barr, a former Member of Congress, has served with the U.S. Department of Justice and Central Intelligence Agency. He continues to serve on the Board of Directors of the National Rifle Association and works with such groups as Harvard University, the American Conservative Union Foundation, and the ACLU on issues related to privacy and national security.
Office of Bob Barr ÷ 255 E. Paces Ferry Road Suite 350 ÷Atlanta, GA 30305 770-836-1776 (V) ÷ 678-904-5600 (F)
Okay, this provision Barr refers will have to be removed from the bill and we need to know who stuck this in it.
2005-02-12 03:33 | User Profile
Weisbrot
I tend to agree with you. Both sides are raising some butt-kicking points. But its hard for me to believe the elites will really hammer down on illegals without some trick involved. And as all of the immigration legislation is full of more tricks and exploits than all versions of Microsoft Windows combined ( :lol: ) all of us should be as cautious.
In my view.. well I don't claim to be an expert here but what I would like to see most is some state actually pass an illegal Mexicans license bill, and have that bill challenged and struck down in the Supreme Court based on, I dont know.. supremecy clause- intruding on federal laws dealing with foreign policy or immigration.. or some dormant interstate commerce clause argument.
That would be the best way to handle it.. though like everyone else I think it would be a scary situation.
2005-02-28 18:02 | User Profile
There are a lot of bright folks on this list (and observing it) who work in IT and understand far more about the creation and uses of relational databases than I ever will hope to. So I can't figure out the attitude of "They already have it, and if they don't now they will..." There's a big difference between an employer- or a federal worker with an agenda- paying some agency thirty bucks to pull in readily available info off the web, and a powerful federal police state having an organized, constantly updated database in a single repository. One that is at first voluntary, and then will by its nature become mandatory and even self-perpetuating.
I'm further mystified by those below who say, "Well, they promise to protect us...". What's next, "I read it in the newspaper so it has to be true..."? Yeah, we've already got our SS cards, and they already know all. And that immigration reform of 1965 was just more good government in action...
[url]http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=512&ncid=716&e=5&u=/ap/20050227/ap_on_go_co/driver_s_licenses[/url]
Driver's License Bill Concerns Groups
Sun Feb 27, 9:07 AM ET Politics - U. S. Congress By SUZANNE GAMBOA, Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON - A proposal to stop potential terrorists from getting a U.S. driver's license may turn the licenses into a national ID card or help the government track gun purchases, opponents fear.
Conservatives, civil libertarians, gun owners and others share such concerns about a House-passed bill that broadly rewrites the rules for licenses and is portrayed as an anti-terrorism tool.
They fear that licenses, like Social Security (news - web sites) numbers, could be used for purposes well beyond their original intent.
These opponents say the measure, passed by a 261-161 vote last month and supported by the White House, even could make it possible for the government to monitor people's movements in the country through a chip in a license.
"Supporters of this don't seem to have the ability to look beyond how this system they are putting in place can change. They can't see how it can metamorphose into a national ID card," said Steve Lilienthal, director of the Free Congress Foundation Center for Privacy & Technology.
The House passed the legislation Feb. 10. Supporters promote the bill, which the Senate has yet to consider, as another way to fight terrorism.
Under the measure, states must verify they are giving licenses to U.S. citizens and legal residents. If they fail to do so, federal officers cannot accept licenses from residents of those states as proof of identity to get on an airplane or into a federal building, for example.
Lilienthal, whose think tank says it is politically and culturally conservative, asked what is there to stop the government from eventually requiring information about people's health, criminal backgrounds or gun ownership. Larry Pratt, executive director of Springfield, Va.-based Gun Owners of America, says the bill "hands an open-ended blank check" to the government to collect information about people.
States can opt out of the requirements, but the bill would withhold money from states for driver's license improvements if they do.
The bill's sponsor, House Judiciary Committee (news - web sites) Chairman Rep. James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., told colleagues that the minimum standards already are met by most states and are intended to prod those whose lax licensing checks are "a magnet for foreign terrorists, criminals, home grown identity thieves and illegal aliens."
The Sept. 11 commission urged Congress last year to make it harder for people to get a driver's license, noting that some of the Sept. 11 hijackers fraudulently obtained licenses that allowed them to board commercial flights. [B]Dan Stein[/B], executive director of the Federation of Americans for Immigration Reform, played down the privacy concerns and said the bill is written in such a way as to prevent abuse. He said national driver's license standards are indispensable to curbing illegal immigration.
"No one has a legitimate privacy question over whether someone is legal or not. That ought to be verifiable," he said.
But in Montana, members of the state House are refusing to cede their driver's license authority to Washington. Last week, they approved a bill that prohibits the adoption of federal driver's license standards for noncommercial licenses.
On Capitol Hill, Rep. Richard Pombo (news, bio, voting record), R-Calif., was one of eight Republicans who voted against the bill.
"In our efforts to protect our homeland and increase our border security we must move forward with solid measures. At the same time, our individual civil rights are nonnegotiable," Pombo said in a statement. "The establishment of a national ID card, I believe, has the possibility of violating those rights."
2005-02-28 20:16 | User Profile
From Gunowners of America:
[url]http://www.gunowners.org/a021705.htm[/url]
[url]www.gunowners.org[/url] Feb 2005 Battle over the National ID Card now moves to the Senate -- But not before Rep. Paul blasts the anti-gun bill on the House floor Gun Owners of America 8001 Forbes Place, Suite 102 Springfield, VA 22151 (703)321-8585
----- "The U.S. House of Representatives passed a national ID bill last week that masqueraded as 'immigration reform.' ... In reality, the bill is a Trojan horse. It pretends to offer desperately needed border control in order to con a credulous Congress into sacrificing more of our constitutionally protected liberty." -- Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) -----
Thursday, February 17, 2005
Rep. Ron Paul got it right. H.R. 418 is not about immigration control as much as it is about citizen control.
Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 261-161 to send H.R. 418, the so-called "REAL ID Act of 2005," over to the Senate. The bill federalizes the issuance of drivers' licenses, an activity which until recently has always been a state function. Because no American will be able to fly, take a train or buy a gun from a dealer without a driver's license that meets the federal standards in the bill, H.R. 418 has effectively created a National ID card.
The bill's future in the Senate is uncertain at this time, although Rep. Paul's office has told Gun Owners of America that House leaders are contemplating whether to attach H.R. 418 as an amendment to the tsunami relief bill.
Lambasting the bill on the floor of the House last week, Rep. Paul noted that the legislation gives authority to the Secretary of Homeland Security to expand the required information that goes into driversââ¬â¢ licenses, including "such biometric information as retina scans, fingerprints, DNA information, and even Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) radio tracking technology."
Should this happen, it would mean that the federal government "would know where Americans are at all times of the day and night," Paul said.
Moreover, H.R. 418 requires the U.S. government to share our personal information with Canada and Mexico. Paul was flabbergasted. "There are no limits on what happens to the database of sensitive information on Americans once it leaves the United States for Canada and Mexico -- or perhaps other countries," he said. Paul wondered if crooked Mexican officials would soon be able to sell thousands of identity files, including our Social Security numbers, to alien criminals.
Rep. Paul also informed his House colleagues about the dangers this bill poses to gun owners, noting that H.R. 418 contains no prohibitions against including "a person's appearance on a registry of firearms owners" in the National ID card.
"H.R. 418 does what legislation restricting firearm ownership does," Paul said. "It punishes law-abiding citizens. Criminals will ignore it.
"H.R. 418 offers us a false sense of greater security at the cost of taking a gigantic step toward making America a police state."
If the President and Congress were serious about cracking down on alien terrorists, they would (for starters) get serious about securing our border. But while Congress funded an additional 2,000 border guards last year, the administration has stated it will only seek to add 210 new guards.
And while Congress has enacted armed pilots legislation to combat the threat of terrorist hijackers, the administration has fought this proposal every step of the way. As it stands today, there are many pilots who simply refuse to jump over all the hurdles that the administration has erected for those pilots who want to carry firearms in the cockpit.
"It seems disingenuous," said GOA Executive Director Larry Pratt, "for our elected officials in Washington to claim they are interested in stopping illegal immigrants from operating in our country, when they have refused to perform the most basic tasks to effectively secure our border."
ACTION: Please contact your Representative to either thank him for opposing H.R. 418 or to take him to task for supporting it. The GOA Legislative Action Center -- at [url]http://www.gunowners.org/activism.htm[/url] -- will help you to automatically send the correct message to your legislator. (You can read the two different pre-written letters below.)
To view the entire Roll Call vote last week on H.R. 418, see [url]http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2005/roll031.xml[/url] on the web.
And, the entirety of Rep. Ron Paul's floor speech in opposition to H.R. 418 can be read at [url]http://www.gunowners.org/op0506.htm[/url] on the GOA website. -- Letter taking a Representative to task for supporting H.R. 418 --
Dear Representative:
I was disappointed to see that you voted for H.R. 418. Rep. Ron Paul has correctly described this bill as a Trojan Horse that purports to control immigration, but actually does more to control the lives of average citizens.
I understand that some in Congress don't think the bill starts us down the road toward a National ID card. But even the Republican talking points in favor of this bill state that "the federal government should set standards for the issuance of birth certificates and sources of identification such as driver's licenses."
Federal standards? Doesn't that sound like the language of a National ID card? Especially when you consider that the Secretary of Homeland Security is authorized to require any other information he desires to be included in these National IDs, including retina scans, fingerprints or DNA information -- or within a future anti-gun administration, even information concerning concealed carry license holders.
Some have argued that H.R. 418 is only voluntary for the states. Of course, the 55 mile-an-hour speed limit was only voluntary, and yet EVERY state in the union was bribed into following that federal mandate.
The problem with this "voluntary" system is that if a state chooses to ignore the requirements in H.R. 418, then citizens in that state will NOT be able to ride on a train or fly an airplane -- and will probably not be able to buy a gun from a dealer, as well.
As a citizen who values my privacy, and as a supporter of Second Amendment rights, this bill concerns me greatly.
I will continue to get updates from Gun Owners of America on the progress of this bill. So as a constituent of yours, I would ask you to please reconsider your vote on H.R. 418 -- especially since you will probably get to vote on this bill again at some point in the legislative process. Thank you.
Sincerely, ----- Letter thanking a Representative for opposing H.R. 418 -----
Dear Representative:
Thank you so much for voting against H.R. 418. As you know, this bill does very little in the way of controlling illegal immigration. But it will do much to federalize the issuance of driversââ¬â¢ licenses, thereby establishing a de facto National ID card.
I hope that you will continue to oppose this bill, every step of the way.
Sincerely,
Camp American's 5th Annual Essay Contest
All young men and women between the ages of 7 and 18 years who are currently enrolled in home school, Christian school or public school are invited to submit entries to Camp American's 5th Annual Essay Contest.
Topics for the essays are broken down by the following age groups:
7-9: Good Citizenship 10-12: Patrick Henry 13-15: Public Display of the Ten Commandments or Gun Ownership in America 16-18: The Proper Role of Government or Gun Ownership in America
Prizes include scholarships to Camp American, cash awards and publication of the winning essays. Full details and rules can be seen at [url]http://www.campamerican.com[/url] along with last year's winning entries.
The deadline for submissions is March 31, 2005. For more info, contact Noelle Dielman at [email]director@campamerica.org[/email] or by phone at 502-361-9496. Up to Home Copyright, Contact and Credits
2005-02-28 21:11 | User Profile
I expect for a mandate from the government that will say that every American must have their photo, figerpring and DNA be taken by the power to be.