A 'Real' Bad Bill

THIS IS VERY SCARY. COURTESY OF AMERICAN PROGRESS:

Yesterday Congress forced what was originally known as the Real ID bill through the House of Representatives. Knowing that this bill is unpopular with millions of Americans, the act never received a hearing in Congress, and was tacked on to the unrelated $83 billion supplemental appropriations bill that will fund U.S. troops in Iraq. This new Real ID bill does nothing to keep Americans safer, will create a bureaucratic mess at our nation's DMVs and does not move the country towards real immigration reform.

• Real ID does not make us safer. The claim that this bill would have prevented 9/11 is false. The provisions in Real ID would not have prevented the 9/11 hijackers from getting drivers licenses.

• The nation's DMVs are not equipped to handle implementing Real ID. Already besieged by long lines and inadequate staffing, the country's DMVs are not prepared to validate and check birth certificates, photo IDs, proof of Social Security numbers and various other documents this bill will require. DMVs were not set up to be de facto immigration law enforcers.

• This is not immigration reform. This country needs real immigration reform and a plan to address the millions of undocumented workers who already live here. Conservative plans like Real ID will only hurt those who are trying to seek legal political asylum and will do nothing to keep us safer.

Daily Talking Points is a product of the American Progress Action Fund.