PA Senate to DC: We will not Comply

By: |Published on: Oct 18, 2011|Categories: Uncategorized|

PA Senate Votes Unanimously for Real ID Non-Compliance

The Pennsylvania State Senate passed SB354, An Act relating to compliance with the Federal REAL ID Act of 2005, 50 to 0 today, stating (in part),

Neither the Governor nor the Department of Transportation or any other Commonwealth agency shall participate in the REAL ID Act of 2005 or regulations promulgated thereunder.

Senator Folmer, the legislation’s primary sponsor noted in his sponsorship memorandum that,

Real ID threatens the privacy rights of all Pennsylvanians.  The Department of Homeland Security would be empowered to mandate the collection of biometric data.  Currently, Homeland Security requires capturing “face prints” — biometric data via facial recognition software.  Unfortunately, REAL ID offers no controls on what confidential data can be collected from driver’s licenses, where and how long it can be stored, and who is authorized to obtain, share, trade or sell that information.

We applaud Senator Folmer and the Pennsylvania State Senate for passing this important legislation for the second consecutive year.  Similar House legislation, HB1753, remains assigned to the House State Government Committee.

As Tenth Amendment Center Founder, Michael Boldin, wrote last year,

When more than two dozen states refuse to comply with yet another unfunded mandate from D.C. – that mandate may sit on the books, but it’s as good as repealed, even without going to the federal courts to oppose it.

With action in the House and the Governor’s signature, Pennsylvania will add itself to the list of states who are protecting their citizens’ privacy.  You can track Real ID Nullification efforts around the country at the Tenth Amendment Center’s Real ID tracking page.

cross-posted from the Pennsylvania Tenth Amendment Center

Steve Palmer
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