Virginia is having financial woes implementing Real ID

Va. Braces for Driver's License Changes
www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...54.html

By Anita Kumar
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, December 17, 2007; B01

RICHMOND -- Virginia officials are struggling over how to implement and pay
for new federal regulations that will require the state's 5.5 million
drivers to wait in line to get a driver's license in what is expected to be
a lengthy process similar to getting a passport.

Some states are refusing to comply with the strict regulations. Others are
asking Congress to change or repeal the costly program. But in Virginia, a
state where nearly half of the Sept. 11, 2001, hijackers got their driver's
licenses, many lawmakers generally welcome the safeguards designed to help
prevent terrorist attacks and reduce the number of licenses granted to
illegal immigrants.

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DHS is releasing grant money to help states implement Real ID

DHS unveils Real ID grants
www.washingtontechnology.com/onl...html

By Alice Lipowicz
12/14/07 -- 05:16 PM

The Homeland Security Department released grant guidelines this week to
assist states in applying for $35 million to begin implementing Real ID
requirements for handling personal information associated with driver's
licenses.

"These funds will advance the ability of states to verify the legitimacy of
documents that applicants present and to confirm that the applicants are who
they say they are," said Secretary Michael Chertoff.

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The ACLU wants candidates to state their positions on Real ID - and aim for repeal

ACLU presses candidates to repeal Real ID card law
www.unionleader.com/article.aspx

Monday, Dec. 17, 2007

MANCHESTER - The American Civil Liberties Union and its New Hampshire
affiliate are trying to use the state's First in the Nation Primary to
pressure Presidential candidates to publicly reject the Real ID law and to
pledge to repeal it.

"It's important to know where the next President stands," said NHCLU
Executive Director Claire

Begun in July, the national and state organizations' efforts to get the
candidates to publicly reject the plan to turn the state driver's license
into a de facto national identification card haven't had much success.