Wired's Threat Level reports:
Montana forcefully rejected on Tuesday the requirements of pending federal identity document rules that would create a de facto national identity card, as Governor Brian Schweitzer signed into law a bill forbidding the state from implementing the rules and requiring reports to the government if the feds try to enforce them.Maine was the first state to reject the requirements, which would require that states standardize their drivers' licenses starting in 2008 or face having their citizens' identification papers made useless for entering airport security or getting federal benefits.
"In January, the state of Maine held a 'Boston Tea Party' when they became the first to declare their opposition to Real ID by passing a resolution," said Tim Sparapani, an ACLU Legislative Counsel. "Today Montana has taken that rebellion to an entirely new level by issuing what amounts to a 'Declaration of Independence' from the act."
Remember that the move to create a "Real ID" is spurred by some weird combination of fears of immigration, terrorism, and voter fraud. New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and several southern states are in line to follow Montana's lead in rejecting the change. California, sadly, is considered by the Dept of Homeland Security to be one of the standouts in compliance.
Gov. Schweitzer will be on Real Time with Bill Maher this weekend; hopefully he'll be asked about this.
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