Maine rejects federal Real ID Act
January 26, 2007 – 1:28 pmThe state of Maine has passed a resolution refusing to implement the Real ID Act.
The federal law, passed in 2005, orders states to adopt Department of Homeland Security-approved ID cards. It also requires citizens to have one of these cards or other federally-approved ID, such as a passport, to fly, open a bank account, or receive most federal services–including receiving Social Security.
The Maine legislature told the Feds what they could do with their federal ID cards on a nearly unanimous vote: 34-to-0 in the state Senate and 137-to-4 in the House. States that are considering similar resolutions include Montana, Georgia, Washington, and Massachusetts.