The Texas Legislature continues to wilt in the escalating debate over Real ID. As more and more states either threaten to opt out or rush to the support of the law passed in 2005, which mandates a nationwide federal ID provided through the states by 2008, the silence from the 2007 Texas Legislature smacks of head-in-the-sandism. Whatever their stance, ignoring the coming fight just throws under the bus everyday citizens who might possess a less jelly-like backbone than their state officials.
In the name of protecting their constituents, some states have chosen to find a spine, but for them this is much more about a lack of federal funding, fear of an increased bureaucracy and rolling back technological ease of access already implemented by many states than the battle over protecting citizens' rights played out in most papers, magazines and Web sites.
For those unfamiliar with Real ID, the important aspects vary from person to person. In 2005, Congress signed into law a bill mandating that by 2008 all states must be prepared to issue one, uniform federal ID card in place of existing state driver's licenses and IDs.
These federal IDs, called Real ID in a marketing move almost Apple-esque in its Spartan perfection, would require that the applicant present the following, in person, for approval: a photo ID, documentation of birth date and documentation of physical address.
That birth certificate represents the first major hurdle for the states. First, those born without a birth certificate (and even today that could likely means millions of citizens) face an uphill battle for their new ID. While this presents a true hassle to the applicant, it presents an even larger burden upon the state that must handle this increased complication in application.
Worse, all those states with online renewal and license applications find themselves having developed software that is about to become every bit as out of date as a copy of Windows 3.1. The required presentation of these documents means your local Department of Public Safety office can expect one visit by every single citizen in the area once this programs kicks off.
So, new software, increased man-hours, loaded bureaucracy and suddenly states have started claiming an $11 billion dollar price tag on this federal project.
That would be a lot of federal money going toward the project if the feds were funding it, but the bill places that burden solely on the states, with nary a whisper of future federal funding. Of course the bill also contains no teeth to force the states to comply. The only drawback the bill offers for a failure to comply falls upon individual citizens, not the states directly, as federal agencies will no longer recognize state-issued IDs - federal agencies such as the Transportation Security Administration, which covers airport security.
If Texas joins the growing number of states trying to buck the system, catching a trip home for the summer or to the next bowl game is going to get much, much tougher in 2008. Led by Maine, a few other states have recently jumped aboard the concept of passing state laws that push against the Real ID program. If Congress fails to blink, the common citizen stands to be the "Real Casualty" regardless of position on Real ID.
The feds may well refuse state identifications, states may fail to offer the only ID the feds will accept. This quickly adds up to long lines, less access to online applications and a return to the DPS nightmares of the '70s and '80s. All could become "Real Possibilities."
Those states that do accept the burden will have to find the money somewhere, and it seems a safe bet that the minor inroads made for tuition relief could quickly evaporate in the face of such an expensive obligation.
It's time to know where the Texas Legislature stands on this one. Time to know where our pinch will come: the pocket book or the security terminal.
Trice is an English senior.
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