No funding for national ID card
 
Date: Sat, 15 Mar 2008 12:37:38 -0500 (CDT)


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>From the desk of Caroline Fredrickson
Director, ACLU Washington Legislative Office
Please contact your Senators and tell them to oppose
any funding for Real ID:
http://action.aclu.org/site/R?i=thtT7Me2_AVwXaP--jeVHg..
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Recently, you helped the ACLU fight Real ID by signing our petition.
We've delivered those. And thanks to your efforts, resistance to
the Real ID Act remains strong in the states. Three governors -- in
Maine, Montana and South Carolina -- have refused to file for an
extension on the program's deadline thus, signaling their
opposition to implementing Real ID and standing up to the Department
of Homeland Security's bullying.

Real ID implements a national identity system that would expose us all
to greater government snooping and higher risk of identity theft. It
threatens to turn America into a "checkpoint society," where our every
move is monitored and those who do not qualify are barred from basic
aspects of civic life. It is also a massive unfunded mandate that will
force states to pay the lion's share of a $10 billion price tag.

This presents an enormous challenge. But with your help, we can win.
Please take action now:
http://action.aclu.org/site/R?i=qoGpikwBf82Yjma8bPwFHA..

The issue of Real ID funding has now been forced back onto the floor
of the U.S. Senate, where Real ID was passed in 2005 without hearings
or debate. It is expected that efforts will be made over the coming
months to prop up Real ID with Congressional funding. This "sucker
money" won't be nearly enough to actually pay for Real ID but
some in Congress hope it will tempt states to participate in the
program using state tax dollars.

It is vital that all funding efforts be defeated. Instead of
squandering money on this failed program, we must end Real ID. Please
contact your Senators and tell them to oppose any funding for Real ID:
http://action.aclu.org/site/R?i=GLeLBYbTPWJeMfeaahE2aA..

Thank you for your continued involvement in this important privacy
issue.

Sincerely,

Caroline Fredrickson, Director
ACLU Washington Legislative Office

) ACLU, 125 Broad Street, 18th Floor New York, NY 10004