Wednesday, July 16, 2008

(REAL ID) (North Carolina) House panel tells feds 'no' on secure ID plan





House panel tells feds 'no' on secure ID plan
RALEIGH, N.C.

A House panel has rebuffed the federal government's plan to require states to make identification cards more secure.

A measure criticizing the federal REAL ID Act was approved by a House judiciary committee Tuesday. The plan is designed to keep identification cards out of the hands of terrorists and illegal immigrants by requiring more stringent security checks.

The bill's sponsor, Democrat Rep. Nelson Cole, said complying will cost North Carolina tens of millions of dollars.

The bill calls for the state to stop spending taxpayer dollars to implement the requirements, and instead try to use federal grants and other funding sources.

With lawmakers looking to adjourn by the end of the week, it's unclear if the bill will be approved by the full House and Senate in time.

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