Montana Legislature
Montana House Votes To Deny Federal ID Act
By Daniel Testa, 1-31-07
Applause broke out in the House today after lawmakers passed the second of two bills to deny and nullify a Federal Law which increases the restrictions placed on drivers licenses.
House Bill 287, by Rep. Brady Wiseman, D-Bozeman, denies the implementation of the Federal ID Act. The bill passed with a 99-1 vote.
“Tell the nation, in no uncertain terms, that Congress has made a mistake,” Wiseman urged lawmakers, adding that he had committments from about 24 other state legislatures to consider similar legislation.
Immediately after, House Bill 384 passed with a 100-0 vote. Sponsored by, Rep. Diane Rice, R-Harrison, the bill nullifies the Real ID Law, which would require Montanans to give a minimum standard of proof of residency before getting a driver’s license.
Speaking in heated tones to her colleagues, Rep. Deborah Kottel, D-Great Falls said she hoped these votes would send a strong message to the rest of the nation.
“I hope this bill goes to the US Supreme Court,” Kottel said, “to protect us from the abuses of the federal government when it over-reaches itself.”
For more on the Federal ID act and the national implications of the Montana legislature’s vote, check out yesterday’s story in USA Today.
It is as if the terrorists have already won...we have lost countless freedoms guaranteed in the Constitution and Bill of Rights, we have our phones monitored, our mail opened, our emails inspected...I guess the national ID is next. How many freedoms do we have to give up before the terrorists stop their terrorising? Wait...how many freedoms do we give up before the Administration stops terrorising us?
Comment By Jeff Milchen, 2-01-07Well done Reps. Wiseman, Rice and the entire House, and thanks to all those who helped drive passage of local anti-"Patriot Act" resolutions in MT communities to start turning the tide against authoritarianism.
Maybe the Bush Administration really is helping advance bipartisanship.
I've got a piece on this as well: http://www.newwest.net/index.php/main/article/states_balk_at_national_drivers_license/
Comment By B Williams, 2-09-07The craft, deceit and coercion that were used to pass REAL ID prove the secret agenda to establish not only a national ID system but the most sophisticated data-mining system on all "free Americans" through the new federal fascism department of Homeland Security. The use of the social security number in REAL ID and in requiring banks to obtain it under the PATRIOT ACT are the key elements of this total surveillance package to monitor any American at will, without warrant, 24/7, and that info shared with Canada and Mexico customs for their North American Union. What can account for the Bush administration's insistence on that program except a deliberate conspiracy to overthrow constitutional liberties to establish a virtual electronic martial law--a mark of a tyrannical and paranoid government? Who needs to "quarter soldiers" if Big Brother can watch for you?
The next step should be a Citizens Privacy Act that outlaws the collecting of Social Security numbers by either government (including DMV) or business (including medical centers) as a condition of application for licenses or doing business. The SS number was promised to never be a national ID, but has become so incrementally. Credit agencies should be banned from making use of it as well, and it is the foremost cause of "identity theft", which is the fault of the government for making use of it as such.
Montana is looking so good right now, where the spirit of 1776 still lives--a state government that actually defends the constitution against domestic federal insurgents! State's rights is against being waged in a new civil war against federal despotism.