There’s a running joke in our office about me and REAL ID. Whenever someone wants to conjure up feelings of frustration, fear, or anger in me, just bring up the topic of REAL ID. Immediately I will start a rant about how much I dislike this legislation.

REAL ID was one of the first issues I worked on when I joined the ACLU of MAINE. It’s unbelievably frustrating that today, just weeks away from my second anniversary, we sent out an action alert about PASS ID, the REAL ID revival.

At the beginning of this long saga, the federal government told us we had to implement REAL ID. Maine was one of the first states to pass state legislation saying we would not implement the program. Then we were told we had to or we wouldn’t be allowed on planes. So the Maine state legislature, in a matter of weeks, rushed a bill through that not only made it clear we would comply with the federal law, but also put much of its language into state law. After passage of that bill, we had agreed to comply with the federal REAL ID program and our own state REAL ID.  A people’s veto effort attempted to repeal this hastily passed legislation, but despite many weeks of truly hard work wasn’t able to obtain 55,000 signatures in three short months. In the next session, when the Secretary of Homeland Security was no longer threatening us, the Maine State Legislature passed a bill to repeal our own REAL ID law, making it possible for us to refuse to comply again. We were excited about this victory, until Governor Baldacci refused to sign the bill because of his commitment to requiring proof of citizenship when obtaining driver’s licenses.

So many fights. So many victories and losses.

It’s time to put this issue to rest once and for all.  Now there are two bills at the federal level – one to revive REAL ID and one to repeal it. Click on the links to learn more about the specifics. REAL ID was a bad idea to begin with, and time and time again our state has taken that stand. It’s time we come to reasonable place where we are both safe and free. Call Senator Snowe (207-874-0883) and Senator Collins (207-780-3575) and ask them to oppose PASS ID (S. 1261).  Call Congresswoman Pingree (207-774-5019) and Congressman Michaud (207-764-1036) and ask them to support the REAL ID Repeal and Identification Security Enhancement Act of 2009 (HR. 3471).

For a comprehensive history of the issue, visit www.realnightmare.org.