Obama admin. pushes for new ID law

Posted: Wednesday, July 15, 2009 6:19 PM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: White House, Congress

From NBC's Madeline Rullo
In a hearing today before the Senate Government Affairs Committee, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano

pressed senators to replace the Bush-era Real ID national drivers license act with the Pass ID Act -- intended to make drivers licenses more secure and less costly for states.

Napolitano pointed out the urgency and importance of the revised plan, saying: "A drivers license can be a key to the kingdom for terrorists." Members of the committee agreed that, according to terrorists, "travel documents are just as important as weapons."

Supporters for the new program believe it would eliminate information-sharing requirements that might lead to rising privacy concerns, and they also say it would be less expensive for states.

However, per the AP: "Opponents of the new program say the Pass ID would relax rules enacted after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks."

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