Deadline looms for state to update IDs for air travel
In less than two years, Oregonians may find themselves unable to board a plane with their state ID card unless lawmakers act. That’s because Oregon is noncompliant with the federal REAL ID Act, a 2005 counter-terrorism law that requires states to put new security features on their ID cards — and pay for the upgrades.
It's a problem facing much of the West, with California, Washington, Alaska, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota and New Mexico out of compliance along with Oregon. In all, 27 states don't comply.
Does Oregon discriminate against tax haven countries?
IDs in line with the law are already necessary to enter some federal buildings and nuclear power plants. In 2018, anyone who wants to pass through airport security will need a compliant ID (passports work too).
Oregon is noncompliant because state legislators passed a law in 2009 banning state funds from being used to conform with REAL ID Act standards, which they saw as an unfunded mandate. Other states, like Arizona and Minnesota, enacted similar bans.
As state Sen. Rod Monroe put it Thursday, Oregon's ban told federal officials “No and hell no.”
The Portland Democrat continued: “I think if the feds want ID compliance they ought to pay for it. But at this point, our good citizens of Oregon that don’t have passports and can’t get on a plane will be a little upset.”
In wake of opiates crisis, pill makers spend on politics
Even if state lawmakers tell the Oregon DMV to make compliant ID cards, they won’t be ready before the federal deadline, DMV head Tom McClellan told legislators Thursday.
Federal authorities have given Oregon several time extensions to comply. The latest expires on Oct. 10, and state officials are scrambling to obtain another extension.
But Homeland Security is threatening to hold back on giving Oregon another extension. Officials at the antiterrorism agency have told the state that to get more time, it needs to show proof of moving towards compliance. Oregon officials have read that as an ultimatum: Lawmakers have to at least try to lift the state ban on REAL ID Act compliance, or an extension won't be granted.
That comes much to the chagrin of lawmakers here, who almost unanimously voted for the ban in 2009. If it is lifted, several million dollars of taxpayer funds will be needed make IDs that satisfy federal requirements, McClellan said.
Gov. Brown retools aging cybersecurity systems
“If Congress wanted to do this they should have just issued a national ID card instead of messing with our IDs,” said Sen. Lee Beyer, a Eugene Democrat who chairs the Senate business and transportation committee.
McClellan, the DMV head, said the agency will apply for another exemption with Homeland Security, but won’t introduce their own legislation to repeal the REAL ID ban.
As for Beyer, who as a committee chair controls what transportation-related proposals move forward for a vote in the state Senate, he said it’d be a “cold day in hell” before Oregon lifts its REAL ID ban.
Send questions, comments or news tips togfriedman2@statesmanjournal.com or 503-399-6653. Follow on Twitter@GordonRFriedman.