New Hampshire State House defies the U.S. gov't on ID law

Here's my first posting from the Free State Project and it's one that brought a smile to my face and you will read here that the New Hampshire State House of Representatives, one of the largest political bodies in the world, just voted to openly defy the U.S. government on the issue of the "Real ID."

Yes I know about the security arguments I would normally defer to that in the case of illegal immigration but there's no reason why the state's which such licenses can't be responsible and held accountable for the licenses since they are the one's that hand them out. If a state suffered a terrorist attack because of a lack of viligance, hey, it's there fault and they should be held accountable for lack of negligance.

Ultimately the issue of immigration outside of border security is going to have to become a local one to ultimately produce a susatinable solution. Some areas of the country may decide to allow large groups of immigrants for their economy, others may decide not to, but at least local communities can decide for themselves if they can bare such costs or reap such benefits.

But to get back to the FSP, they now have over 7,000 members. It's been a long slog and they may very well not be able to reach 20,000 by 2008, but what they've been trying to do is very difficult and that's to have demographic chnage at warp speed when usually such change takes a long time. If they can become the foundations or the early pioneers for gradual movement of libertarian-minded persons from around the country to New Hampshire over the next 20 to 30 years, then their mission will have been accomplished, just a little longer than maybe they anticipated.

---Sean Scallon

New Hampshire House votes to defy Fed ID
March 12, 2006

Libertarians are celebrating after the New Hampshire House of Representatives voted 270-84 to refuse cooperation with the hated "Real ID" act.

Real ID is a Federal mandate which attempts to force states into a standardized drivers license system at taxpayer expense. Freedom advocates argue it would be at the expense of privacy as well, giving the Feds too much power along the way. Federal officials have said it would help them track terrorists and criminals.

"Give me liberty or give me death," said State Rep Neal Kurk, speaking in favor of the bill on the House floor. The chamber roared with applause.

House Bill 1582 forbids all state agencies from participation in Real ID mandates, and asserts that Real ID "is contrary and repugnant to Articles 1 through 10 of the New Hampshire constitution..."

The lopsided anti-Federal vote was a shock even to proponents of the bill. Real ID passed the U.S. Senate 100-0 last year and generated little debate. But as states like New Hampshire have taken a closer look at what it will require of them, liberty activists and local government officials have been teaming up to draw a line in the sand between Washington and their own states.

New Hampshire in particular has become increasingly restive since 2003, when it became a migratory destination for "Free Staters," libertarian activists who move into the state to fight for freedom.

HB 1582 next goes to the New Hampshire Senate; if it passes there it will have to be signed by the Governor. In the meantime, Federal pressure will likely mount in opposition to this bill.