Campaign for Liberty and Take Back Kentucky have been working on trying to get legislation to block the implementation of the federal REAL ID Act in Kentucky. We started off with a meeting in Frankfort in September with Mark Lerner from the Constitutional Alliance to help inform us on the issue. The meeting drew a crowd of nearly 60 concerned Kentucky citizens.
On November 20 Mark Lerner, Chris Southworth, John Riley, Richard Lewis, and Norm Davis met for 2 hours with several state legislators over the issue and presented model legislation that could be modified for use in Kentucky to block Real ID implementation.
Members of TBK/C4L led by Chris Southworth have continued to meet with legislators. We’ve provided them with legislation and compelling information about why Real ID should not be implemented in Kentucky. Real ID not only is an unfunded federal mandate on the citizens of Kentucky, but it is also equivalent to a National and even International Identification Card using our state issued driver’s licenses.
We’ve had positive responses from most legislators and we hear most of them say "I could support this". However, NONE so far have stepped forward and offered legislative leadership to sponsor the legislation needed to block Real ID in Kentucky.
What must be done now:
THE DEADLINE FOR A SPONSOR (Legislator) TO ENTER LEGISLATION FOR CONSIDERATION IN THE CURRENT KENTUCKY GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS FEB 6TH!
THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS SET A DEADLINE FOR ALL STATES TO COMPLY WITH THE FEDERAL REAL ID ACT OF DECEMBER 31, 2009
It is critical that this issue is considered in this legislative session!
HERE’S WHAT ACTION WE NEED FROM OUR MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS and please pass this along to anyone you know that may be interested in this important issue;
Call the Legislative Message line in Frankfort (1-800-372-7181).
TTY Message Line 800-896-0305
Tell the operator:
“I want to leave a message for my State Representative and my State Senator and to all Senate and House Leadership members.”
The operator will take your name, address and phone number (which will identify your representatives for those who don’t know who they are).
The operator will then ask what message you would like to leave. Simply say:
“I oppose any implementation of the federal Real ID act using my Kentucky driver’s license or any other method. I want the legislature to act during this legislative session to block Real ID from being implemented in Kentucky.”
THEN DO THE SAME THING NEXT WEEK! Leave them another message saying "Once again, I oppose implementation of Real ID and look for your leadership on this issue."
For those of you that have been already talking to your state representatives and building relationships with them (I hope all of you are doing that! It’s times like this that those personal relationships are very important!) please use this as an opportunity to contact them directly and discuss this issue with them and ask them to please consider sponsoring and supporting this legislation!
The Legislators that have been talked to and given a legislative information packet are as follows:
House of Representatives- The House is controlled by Democrats
(D)Derrick Graham
(D)Carl Rollins
(R)Joe Fischer
(D)Mary Lou Marzian- Sponsored legislation in 2007
(R)Stan Lee
(D)Mike Cherry
(D)Greg Stumbo- New Speaker of the House
(R)Kevin Bratcher
(D)Hubert Collins
(R)Brad Montell- Was at the meeting with Mark Lerner
(R)CB Embry- Was at the meeting with Mark Lerner
Senators- The Senate is controlled by Republicans
(R)Alice Forgy Kerr
(I)Bob Leeper
(D)Julian Carroll
(D)Kathy Stein- Sponsored legislation in 2007 when she was in the House
(D)Perry Clark- Sponsored legislation in 2007
(D)Ed Worley
(R)Damon Thayer
(R)Dave Williams- Senate President
(R)Garry Tapp
(R)Dan Seum- Was at the meeting with Mark Lerner
(R)Tom Bufford
These legislators were chosen because they are interested, in leadership positions, serve on committees it would get introduced in or sponsored this type of legislation before, and some were chosen at random as likely to be "sympathetic."
You can contact them through the toll free Legislative Message Line above or call 502-564-8100 and ask to be directed to their office to leave a message, of course this would work for any legislator.
You can also find their other contact information here http://www.lrc.ky.gov/Legislators.htm
Just in case we are unable to get this legislation filed I would remind everyone that the fight is not over and instead of having less than a half a year to work on this we will have a whole year for the 2010 session. I know the compliance deadline is 12/31/2009 but this "can" be delayed by the federal government. NOTE: The Identification Security Enhancement Act (ISE) may be passed by Congress this year and repeal REAL ID, however it is only a bait and switch tactic. Let’s stay vigilant on this issue!
If you need any additional information or help please contact Chris Southworth cgbs6183@gmail.com or phone 502-229-2042
Monday, January 19, 2009
Friday, December 26, 2008
DECEMBER REAL ID UPDATE
As many of you know we had a productive meeting in Frankfort last month with some legislators and Mark Lerner of the Constitutional Alliance. For those of you who do not know about this organization it is a National Alliance of organizations, legislators, and citizens across the country dedicated to preserving the Constitution, in particular fighting the REAL ID CONCEPT, NAFTA & NAFTA HIGHWAYS, NAU & SPP, & SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT/UN AGENDA 21.
The Constitutional Alliance also has worked with both the ACLU and the ACLJ on fighting REAL ID. Right now the Constitutional Alliance is working in several states to implement anti REAL ID, anti SSN, anti Biometric, No federal interference in state agencies, Pro 10th Amendment Legislation.
Here is the information the Constitutional Alliance is passing along for everyone to be aware of.
1) The Identification Security Enhancement (ISE) Act AKA S717 and H1117 (federal) from 2007, most likely these bills will have different numbers when legislation is in session this year. This bill is set to repeal REAL ID…but don't jump for joy. ISE basically disassembles REAL ID and puts it back together again with what looks like concessions but are really not considering they have been trying this since the 1980s. They just repackage it every time. This time they are allowing for a negotiated rule making process. To fully understand ISE read the details at this link http://www.stoprealidcoalition.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4:sb-717-does-repeal-the-real-id-act-but&catid=4:articles The danger with ISE is that right now to the average citizen Obama is trying to be in the center and right now ISE has support on both sides of the isle. So in order to show productivity and a bi-partisan effort in Washington this may be one of the first bills passed and signed into law. And as we saw with REAL ID it turned a little kitty cat into a Siberian Tiger through the rule making process, which is shorter this time allowing for slower reaction time on the States part. Once ISE is passed all the states that have passed anti REAL ID legislation but not the full cocktail as I described above that Constitutional Alliance has provided, will be VOID/USELESS. We need to be active in calling/e-mailing our legislators in Washington about this. We need to call Senator Akaka (D-HI) chair of the subcommittee that ISE will most likely be introduced in, he is also the likely sponsor for the bill. We also need to keep the pressure up on our own local legislators.
2) Right now the State that seems to be taking the lead in the REAL ID fight is Oklahoma. It is considered that they will not only file the Anti-REAL ID legislation but also the whole cocktail and pass it. So in the very near future we may be called upon to help take action in Oklahoma (Take Back Kentucky is apart of the CA) much like there was in Ohio with calls & e-mail concerning the Constitutional Convention. Once the first Domino falls it should be easier with the other states.
3) For those of you who are unaware of the recent Constitutional Convention (Con Con) event in Ohio (The CA, C4L, Eagle Forum, Freedom 21, APC are all opposed to this concept in our present political climate.) For more on this click here http://www.americanpolicy.org/sledgehammer/twostates.htm & here http://www.americanpolicy.org/sledgehammer/victory.htm
4) Some good news is Mark was able to sit down with an AP reporter and have a nine hour interview in which the result will be a series of articles about REAL ID. Look for those to start coming out in February. Mark also had an interview with Computer World, that article should come out very soon too.
5) The CA is asking anyone for a Cannonball Idea to gain exposure for the anti-REAL ID movement. I forgot to ask about Lou Dobbs in the conference call but I imagine that it might not get attention until something major happens that the media can grab on to about REAL ID. But it can not hurt to call/e-mail Lou Dobbs in your spare time, remember we want PA State House Rep Sam Rohrer to come on the show and speak about the dangers of REAL ID.
6) There was also discussion of a government report issued by the National Intelligence Commission. The report refers repeatedly to globalism. Seamless borders are considered good versus securing our borders. The influence of international organizations and multi-national corporations on the reports is obvious and significant. I have fully read the report and protecting U.S. sovereignty is not part of the discussion. I cannot stress enough the fact a government agency produced the report to assist our government in setting policy. The following is the link to the report http://www.dni.gov/nic/NIC_2025_project.html
7) There needs to be an alternative to REAL ID, especially if we are to leave the REAL ID concept behind in America. Right now the CA is working with several vendors to create a secure information transmittal hub for the states to use only no data is stored, in fact not all information is transmitted just enough for states to verify certain information better and satisfy the security concerns that many have in this post 9/11 world we live in. Of course this idea is in the very early stages so more refinement/details should come.
The Constitutional Alliance also has worked with both the ACLU and the ACLJ on fighting REAL ID. Right now the Constitutional Alliance is working in several states to implement anti REAL ID, anti SSN, anti Biometric, No federal interference in state agencies, Pro 10th Amendment Legislation.
Here is the information the Constitutional Alliance is passing along for everyone to be aware of.
1) The Identification Security Enhancement (ISE) Act AKA S717 and H1117 (federal) from 2007, most likely these bills will have different numbers when legislation is in session this year. This bill is set to repeal REAL ID…but don't jump for joy. ISE basically disassembles REAL ID and puts it back together again with what looks like concessions but are really not considering they have been trying this since the 1980s. They just repackage it every time. This time they are allowing for a negotiated rule making process. To fully understand ISE read the details at this link http://www.stoprealidcoalition.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4:sb-717-does-repeal-the-real-id-act-but&catid=4:articles The danger with ISE is that right now to the average citizen Obama is trying to be in the center and right now ISE has support on both sides of the isle. So in order to show productivity and a bi-partisan effort in Washington this may be one of the first bills passed and signed into law. And as we saw with REAL ID it turned a little kitty cat into a Siberian Tiger through the rule making process, which is shorter this time allowing for slower reaction time on the States part. Once ISE is passed all the states that have passed anti REAL ID legislation but not the full cocktail as I described above that Constitutional Alliance has provided, will be VOID/USELESS. We need to be active in calling/e-mailing our legislators in Washington about this. We need to call Senator Akaka (D-HI) chair of the subcommittee that ISE will most likely be introduced in, he is also the likely sponsor for the bill. We also need to keep the pressure up on our own local legislators.
2) Right now the State that seems to be taking the lead in the REAL ID fight is Oklahoma. It is considered that they will not only file the Anti-REAL ID legislation but also the whole cocktail and pass it. So in the very near future we may be called upon to help take action in Oklahoma (Take Back Kentucky is apart of the CA) much like there was in Ohio with calls & e-mail concerning the Constitutional Convention. Once the first Domino falls it should be easier with the other states.
3) For those of you who are unaware of the recent Constitutional Convention (Con Con) event in Ohio (The CA, C4L, Eagle Forum, Freedom 21, APC are all opposed to this concept in our present political climate.) For more on this click here http://www.americanpolicy.org/sledgehammer/twostates.htm & here http://www.americanpolicy.org/sledgehammer/victory.htm
4) Some good news is Mark was able to sit down with an AP reporter and have a nine hour interview in which the result will be a series of articles about REAL ID. Look for those to start coming out in February. Mark also had an interview with Computer World, that article should come out very soon too.
5) The CA is asking anyone for a Cannonball Idea to gain exposure for the anti-REAL ID movement. I forgot to ask about Lou Dobbs in the conference call but I imagine that it might not get attention until something major happens that the media can grab on to about REAL ID. But it can not hurt to call/e-mail Lou Dobbs in your spare time, remember we want PA State House Rep Sam Rohrer to come on the show and speak about the dangers of REAL ID.
6) There was also discussion of a government report issued by the National Intelligence Commission. The report refers repeatedly to globalism. Seamless borders are considered good versus securing our borders. The influence of international organizations and multi-national corporations on the reports is obvious and significant. I have fully read the report and protecting U.S. sovereignty is not part of the discussion. I cannot stress enough the fact a government agency produced the report to assist our government in setting policy. The following is the link to the report http://www.dni.gov/nic/NIC_2025_project.html
7) There needs to be an alternative to REAL ID, especially if we are to leave the REAL ID concept behind in America. Right now the CA is working with several vendors to create a secure information transmittal hub for the states to use only no data is stored, in fact not all information is transmitted just enough for states to verify certain information better and satisfy the security concerns that many have in this post 9/11 world we live in. Of course this idea is in the very early stages so more refinement/details should come.
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