Nextgov – Governors, Napolitano discussing changes to Real ID law
The nation’s governors expect this spring to unveil a package of changes they want made to a costly and controversial law requiring their states to issue new driver’s licenses — proposals that could include seeking legislative help from Congress.Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, a former governor of Arizona, said Monday that her office is participating in a working group established by the National Governors Association to review the so-called Real ID law, which Congress passed in 2005 while under Republican control.
Governors across the country say Real ID is riddled with privacy and technical problems and could cost $11 billion to implement over five years. Almost two dozen states have already passed legislation rejecting or resisting the law, according to the American Civil Liberties Union. The ACLU has blasted the driver’s license program, which it said was developed with little advice from governors, as invasive, expensive and ultimately ineffective as a means of preventing terrorism.
