Homeland Security head wants to scrap Real ID driver's license plan

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The head of Homeland Security has asked Congress to scrap Real ID, the federal mandate for states to have more secure driver’s licenses and give them only to legal U.S. residents.

Wisconsin House Republican Jim Sensenbrenner got Congress to approve the stronger licenses in 2005 as a way to fight terrorism.

But security chief Janet Napolitano says a dozen states refuse to follow the law and others have raised serious questions.

She says millions of Americans will have tougher security screenings at airports next year, when the Real ID’s are supposed to take effect.

And she’s pushing an alternative called Pass ID that gives states more leeway for implementing the changes.

Sensenbrenner calls it a watered-down approach that will make Americans less safe. Wisconsin raised the cost of driver’s licenses by $10 last year to implement Real ID.

But the state has delayed those procedures to see what the federal government does.

But they’re still collecting the extra $10, saying it will be needed when the Pass IDs are created.

And for now, they’ll use the extra revenue for new highways.

But that’s not good enough for Assembly Democrat Louis Molepske of Stevens Point. He fears that Pass ID is just another name for Real ID. And he says Wisconsin shouldn’t go along unless the federal government pays for it.

He and Sensenbrenner also say those who’ve paid the extra $10 should get refunds

But Chris Klein of the Department of Transportation says that’s impractical and a lot of the money has been spent Real ID measures.

Tags: homeland security, drivers licenses, real id, wisconsin