A resurgence of state rights?

On May 11, 2008, the statutory deadline for compliance with the REAL ID Act will pass without a single state meeting its requirements. Indeed, more than 17 states have passed legislation objecting to or outright refusing to implement this national ID law. Earlier this year, the Department of Homeland Security handed out extensions of the compliance deadline just for the asking, but state leaders from across the ideological spectrum refused even this small gesture of acquiescence. A REAL ID rebellion is underway, and it has ushered in a debate on whether the United States should have a national ID system. The debate didn’t happen when the law passed because Congress held no hearings, and there was no up-or-down vote on REAL ID in the Senate. Votes this year on REAL ID funding, or perhaps repeal of the national ID law, will reveal where Members of Congress stand on the question whether law-abiding American citizens should be practically or legally required to carry a national ID. Please join us to hear two prominent leaders present their distinct perspectives on REAL ID, identification policy, national and individual security, identity fraud, and privacy.

As of today, only two states have completely ignored the DHS requirement to file an extension. Citizens of their states, may, in the future, have difficulties in traveling, or upon attempting to enter a federal building.

It seems to me that the rebelion of the states, and the ensuing civilian war some 200 years ago was primarily fashioned upon the principle that the thirteen states of the new england colonies would no longer accept blanket edicts from the distant egalitarian ruler, who would pass on its own laws and rulings upon a smaller and theoreticly independent government, without thought of the cost such restrictions might have upon those states.

Mark your calendars and listen to Mark Sanford, Republican Governor of South Carolina and Jon Tester, Democratic U.S. Senator from Montana, as they talk about why they oppose the federal governments attempts to mandate a national ID and surveillance network at the Cato Institute this Wednesday, May 7, 2008. As you should know, South Carolina is one of those two states who have refused to even file for the extension.

The forum will be streamed live, starting at 12:00 noon, online at the following links:

Watch the Event Live in RealVideo
Listen to the Event in RealAudio (Audio Only)

quis custodiet ipsos custodes?