Resolution from the 46th Legislative District to Governor Gregoire opposing the federal REAL ID Act of 2005

WHEREAS the REAL ID Act of 2005 is an unfunded federal mandate passed without debate as an attachment to Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act (H.R. 1268);

WHEREAS the REAL ID Act will pose a significant amount of work and cost for Washington State and inconvenience Washington citizens without any guarantee of improved national or state security;

WHEREAS imposing the undue burden of enforcing federal immigration law on employees of state motor vehicle agencies would inevitably lead to an increase of unlicensed drivers, thereby undermining public safety and increasing insurance rates for all drivers;

WHEREAS the REAL ID's centralized network creates a ripe target for identity theft of Washington citizens;

WHEREAS the REAL ID Act stipulates that if states do not conform within three years, the licenses and ID cards issued by non-compliant states will be invalid for boarding aircraft or entering federally operated buildings, thereby placing a huge burden on citizens;

BE IT RESOLVED that the 46th District Democrats call on the Governor of Washington State to join with her colleagues in other states in challenging this unfunded mandate through the courts and other means.

Submitted by:

• Gail Chiarello
• Martha Dye-Whealan
• Kathryn Gardow
• Sylvia Haven
• Kurt Hulse
• Chad Lupkes
• Beverly Marcus
• Dana O-Day-Senior
• Kenneth Pick
• Peter Serafin

Adopted by the Executive Board of the 46th District Democrats on June 2, 2005