Friday, September 11, 2009

Update on the Plans for a National ID


Either government controls the people or the people control the government


Once again, security for the country is what we are told is the motivation for allowing the government the capability to listen to phone calls or monitor our emails. We are asked to believe that agencies and departments of the federal government will not use all the tools in the technological cookie jar that Congress has provided.

I am bewildered as to why anyone would trust that the NSA, FBI or DHS will start obeying the law. The FBI scripted their own version of FISA (which eavesdropped on American citizen's phone calls, intercepted emails and monitored financial transactions). The FBI abused National Security Letters. DHS's Mocny conceded that the DHS can and will ignore federal privacy laws.

The Stop Real ID Coalition and the Constitutional Alliance work around the clock attempting to stay current on the laws, initiatives and programs that impact our freedom.

If as a country, we make a conscience decision not to accept risk but rather "at all costs" institute any and all measures that might protect us from a terrorist attack, we will not remain a free country. We must be willing to accept some risk if we are to preserve our liberty, rights and freedom.

Make no mistake about it. As a country we are giving the federal government the laws and tools (technology) to control us. We have not learned the lessons of the McCarthy era. We also have not learned from our experience while J. Edgar Hoover was the Director of the FBI. We have not learned from the abuses of power witnessed under the Bush administration or those already taking place under the Obama administration.

I do not know what the "trigger" will be the provides government with the "excuse/reason" to take full control. The trigger might be an economic collapse, a terrorist event, a pandemic or even a natural disaster. The fact is a number of possibilities real or imagined exist that can be the trigger. What I do know is once government has power it does not relinquish it.

We at the Stop Real ID Coalition and the Constitutional Alliance fully support the people in law enforcement, our military and our intelligence community. We recognize the federal government has a responsibility to protect the citizens of the United States. That being said, protecting does not equate to controlling. We support state driver's licenses with document integrity. We do not want to see counterfeit driver's licenses used to facilitate any criminal activity including acts of terrorism. We have an alternative to the Real ID Act 2005, PASS ID Act and the REAL ID Repeal and Identification Security Enhancement Act of 2009

UPDATE ON SB1261 AND HR3471


There have been some articles about SB1261 (Providing for Additional Security in States' Identification Act of 2009) or the PASS ID Act. Very few people if any are talking about HR3471 (REAL ID Repeal and Identification Security Enhancement Act of 2009, short title).

What is important for all citizens to realize is the Real ID Act, PASS ID Act and the REAL ID Repeal and Identification Security Enhancement Act of 2009 all either do or will require that Americans be enrolled into a single global biometric identification system. If one supports any of these bills then they support the federal government intervening in the issuance of state driver's licenses.

I am absolutely besides myself attempting to understand why we are so blind about the power we are giving to the federal government. The federal government has set 29% as being an acceptable rate to catch people and goods entering our country illegally through authorized Customs Border Patrol checkpoints.

If our government has the biometric information of terrorists then why not focus on terrorists at our checkpoints instead of all U.S. citizens? If we do not have the biometric information of terrorists then why are we collecting the biometric information of American citizens?

I get emails and telephone calls everyday asking me about the status of the aforementioned legislation.

1) PASS ID Act has passed with an amendment added, in committee (Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee). It is my opinion that the PASS ID Act will be attached to other legislation before being heard by the full senate. The Real ID Act 2005 was attached to other legislation (military spending and tsunami relief). I believe PASS ID will be attached to an appropriations spending bill. I do not believe the senate will take the time to debate PASS ID on its own merits. Some will see the attachment of PASS ID to other legislation as a way to avoid debate or at least limit debate on PASS ID. Others will argue attaching PASS ID to other legislation is a logical thing to do in order to best utilize the time the senate has to hear legislation. In either case the result will be the PASS ID Act will pass in the senate.

2) REAL ID Repeal and Identification Security Enhancement Act of 2009 (HR3471) has been referred to two house committees, the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary. HR3471 repeals Title II of the Real ID Act 2005 just as the PASS ID Act does. HR3471 will reinstitute section 7212 of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004.

Not confused yet? The Pass ID Act calls for a non negotiated rulemaking process while HR3471 calls for a negotiated rulemaking process.

The point is there is no way most people are going to understand the many nuances that are a reality when speaking about the path legislation can take to become law. It is equally true that the rulemaking process is not easily understood.

While the country is focused on healthcare, cap and trade, immigration and other issues the federal government is pulling the rug right our from underneath our feet. The federal government has gone from protecting citizens to now wanting to control citizens.

I have been on the phone all morning working with our contacts to open the door to my testifying in opposition to HR3471. I have been put in contact with the people on "the Hill" that can make my testifying a reality.

If we need the support of citizens to make calls we will put out an Action Alert.

On a final note-HR3174, Photo Identification Security Act has been referred to the Subcommittee on Government Management, Organization, and Procurement. HR3174 mandates that all federal agencies/departments and financial institutions require a Real ID compliant driver's license. If Real ID (Title II) is repealed then HR3174 will be amended to change from Real ID to PASS ID or whatever replaces Real ID, compliant driver's license.


Source: Campaign For Liberty: Update on the Plans for a National ID

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