Federal ID Card

Legislation attached to the $82 billion military spending bill known as the REAL ID Act will require all adult U.S. citizens and legal residents to trade their state driving licenses for new, national, electronically readable federal ID cards by 2008. Passed by Congress in June of this year, the legislation needs Senate and Presidential approval before becoming law. Critics of the legislation say it poses a huge boondoggle at DMV counters as well as a sharp rise in fees.

REAL ID Act
Possession of a federal ID card will be required of all citizens in order to drive cars, travel on airplanes, open bank accounts, collect Social Security benefits and take advantage of most government services. The bill, which was subject to a mere up-or-down vote, faced little debate as it also approved funding for troops in Iraq as well as Tsunami relief funding.


The REAL ID Act has caused a furor among state governors of both parties. At a national meeting of governors, Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack said that the bill would send the cost of obtaining permission to drive a vehicle through the roof and predicted that such changes would drive the ordinary citizen crazy. The REAL ID Act requires states to verify that all applicants are American citizens or legal residents. Applicants for federal ID cards will have to provide photo ID (such as a passport), proof of U.S. residency (such as a utility bill), birth certificate and social security card. Each document will have to be verified by the originating agency for validity. Since DMV clerks would become document sleuths in charge of unmasking fraudulent papers, the bill will also require costly retraining.


Additionally, the federal ID program will eliminate current laws in some states that allow illegal immigrants to obtain driver licenses. Some states provide illegal immigrants with the opportunity to be tested for driving skills. Those who pass may be issued driving licenses and can purchase auto insurance.


Proponents of the bill say the REAL ID Act is a necessity for preventing the entry of suspected terrorists into the U.S. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that the bill, which authorizes cost-covering grants to states, will cost about $120 million between 2006 and 2010.