I don't see it as a 'serious diminution'. Some of the worst features still exist -- the digital photograph (some states are already trying to work in facial recognition tech), and a machine-readable section (right now that would be a 2D bar code). The machine readable section is not encrypted, and there are absolutely no privacy protections with regard to third party access. Talk about identity theft threats!

"States also will still need to verify applicants' identities and legal status by checking federal immigration, Social Security and State Department databases." This is also a minefield. The department of motor vehicles people want nothing to do with being immigration police - they fear for their safety and they don't have the skills/ability to rectify mistakes that happen to lurk in those databases.

Also, I don't think it's possible to reissue all driver's licenses within five years. About a year and half ago, I was in a meeting with civil liberties groups and the DMV in California. The message I came away with was that the DMV computer systems are so archaic that it would take a monumental amount of time and money to bring those systems up to date and able to handle something even like Real ID-lite. And I'm sure that California is not alone.

And even with federal grants -- the cost is still enormous. Where is that money going to come from?

In my opinion, it's best to just repeal Real ID. If we're going to move toward a national ID card, then it's best to have that discussion out in the open, rather than have a amendment attached to a must pass spending bill. Real ID was a bad bill, from start to finish. It wasn't thought out at all. Start again - or not.