A Senate Committee is considering a plan to prohibit the state from participating in the new federal identification card system, known as Real ID.
New Hampshire Public Radio's Dan Gorenstein reports.
Last year, Congress passed the Real ID Act in an effort to curb terrorism.
That means by May 2008 all states must issue drivers licenses and ids that meet tougher federal standards laid out by the Department of Homeland Security.
Information on a 'Real ID' would include a person's full name, date of birth, home address, physical features and arguably the most controversial aspect, some sort of bar or chip that can be read or scanned, much like a credit card.
All of that personal information would be stored on a database to be shared nationwide.
Republican Representative Neal Kurk ushered the measure to bar the state from adopting Real ID through the House last month.
He told the Senate Committee the new federal plan won't enhance national security at all.
:55 ... Remember the 9/11 terrorirsts were in this country legally and had legally obtained documents. The real id system will enhance government control and citizens will suffer. Perhaps that is why the Real ID Act is opposed by the Naitonal Governor's Association, the National Conference of State Legislatures, the National Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, the conservative Cato Institute and the liberal ACLU.
Indeed, traditional political opponents find themselves on the same side of this issue.
Whether Republican, Libertarian or Democrat much of the criticism centered on privacy.
Some, like Jennifer Coffey with the gun rights group 2nd Amendment Sisters, worry about identity theft.
12:46 it creates a beautiful database that is easy to get into. If they get into the NH Liquor Store database and stole people's names and credit cards. They got people's names and address from Fidelity and social security. And those were much smaller databases.
Democratic Senator Iris Estabrook spoke of being tracked.
2:43 it doesn't seem to me that as Americans we want to live with radio signals being omitted from our required ID cards. That doesn't sound like America to me. And it doesn't sound like something we need in order to have drivers licenses.
Opponents see Real ID as a first step to a national identification system that would require people to carry their papers even when walking their dog.
Republican Representative Steve Valincourt warned Senators similar systems haven't worked out so well in other countries.
1:10 in the 1930's we are told the Netherlands went to this type of system for national id...Of course late in the 30's, some other people goose-stepped their way into the Netherlands, and all the work on National ID had been done.
The New Hampshire Department of Safety remains neutral on the legislation.
But as one of only two states set to pilot Real ID, a Safety spokesperson pointed out the bill jeopardizes 3 million dollars in federal money.
He added that not adopting Real ID would have real world consequences.
To board an airplane a person would have to either produce a passport or submit to a secondary search.
A New Hampshire resident could be barred from certain federal buildings.
And a New Hampshire drivers license wouldn't be valid outside of the state...making a host of travel activities- like renting a car or entering a bar- difficult.
3:50 we will be placing the burden on NH citizens who want to travel and have identification.
Again, Senator Iris Estabrook.
She understands not adopting Real ID carries serious consequences.
...I think we need to remember that that won't happen until May '08. there are two years the federal government will have to decide to take some other path with this need. And clearly, passing this legislation will be playing hardball, but maybe that is what needs to be done.
Both the Cato Institute and the ACLU testified that if New Hampshire enters into a game of chicken, Congress will blink first.
The ACLU's Barry Steinhardt.
7:34 Everybody in Washington knows this will not be implemented by May '08....no money has been appropriated. No regulations exist. NH can have the courage to be the first one to say the Emperor has no clothes. We are not going to play with this...and I guarantee you other states will follow.
Before New Hampshire can- as one supporter said, fire the shot that's heard around the world- the state Senate must pass House Bill 1582.
Senate leadership doesn't want that to happen.
And given that the Senate couldn't even agree to pass a non-binding resolution denouncing Real ID, chances of passage is far from guaranteed.
For NHPR News, I'm DG.
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