Quote of the Day: “PASS Act is REAL ID 2.0” — Electronic Privacy Information Center
Subject: They haven’t quit, so we won’t quit
The American people don’t want a national ID card. Nevertheless, the REAL ID Act remains on the books, and the PASS Act (S. 1261) is still waiting in the wings to replace it. Here’s the official description of the PASS Act . . .
“A bill to repeal title II of the REAL ID Act of 2005 and amend title II of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to better protect the security, confidentiality, and integrity of personally identifiable information collected by States when issuing driver’s licenses and identification documents, and for other purposes.”
That doesn’t really tell you much does it? It sounds like the PASS Act is designed to protect you from identity theft. Some people could also assume that the REAL ID Act is being repealed, but in reality . . .
* The PASS Act is similar to the REAL ID scheme for a national identity card
* The PASS Act could make identity theft easier because of it’s reliance on centralized databases and RFID chips that can be read at a distance
Our politicians are nothing if not tenacious. They don’t quit, so we can’t quit either. We must show them that we have more staying power than they do. It’s time to ask, once again, that Congress repeal the REAL ID Act and kill the PASS Act. You can send a letter to your Congressional employees using our Educate the Powerful System (sm).
Here’s what I’m saying in my personal comments to my House rep., and to my two Senators . . .
“I’ve asked you repeatedly to repeal the READ ID Act. Please be aware that I know you have the power to introduce legislation to accomplish this goal. You do not need permission from anyone to draft and introduce such legislation. Just do it, so that others can follow the banner you raise. Neither I, nor the vast majority of the American people, want either the REAL ID Act or its proposed replacement, the so-called PASS Act. You can earn major brownie points with me by introducing legislation to repeal REAL ID, but you will earn major demerits if you do not introduce such legislation. I am paying attention.”
Use DownsizeDC.org’s “Repeal READ ID” campaign to send your letter to Congress.
In addition, if one of your Senators appears in the following list of co-sponsors of the PASS Act (S.1261) please call them and say the following: “I’m disappointed that my Senator is co-sponsoring the PASS Act. I would much prefer that he introduce legislation repeal the REAL ID Act.”
Here’s the list: Sen Alexander, Lamar [TN], Sen Baucus, Max [MT], Sen Burris, Roland [IL], Sen Carper, Thomas R. [DE], Sen Leahy, Patrick J. [VT], Sen Lieberman, Joseph I. [CT], Sen Tester, Jon [MT], Sen Voinovich, George V. [OH]
Thank you for being a member of the growing Downsize DC Army. To see how fast we’re growing, as well as the latest member of the Read the Bills Act Coalition, please check out the Keeping Score Report below my signature.
Jim Babka
President
DownsizeDC.org, Inc.
KEEPING SCORE REPORT
New Read the Bills Act Coalition member: 21st Century Jeffersonianism
To join the coalition visit DownsizeDC.org.
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