New Hampshire House Reject Real ID
NH House | March 10, 2006
The NH House yesterday voted overwhelmingly to reject the Transportation Committee's recommendation of ITL and in a subsequent motion to pass HB 1582, forbidding any state agency from participating in any national ID requirement. The bill is succinct and to the point:
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Six
AN ACT prohibiting New Hampshire from participating in a national identification card system.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Prohibition Against Participation in National Identification System. The general court finds that the public policy established by Congress in the Real ID Act of 2005, Public Law 109-13, is contrary and repugnant to Articles 1 through 10 of the New Hampshire constitution as well as Amendments 4 though 10 of the Constitution for the United States of America. Therefore, the state of New Hampshire shall not participate in a national identification card system; nor shall the department of safety amend the procedures for applying for a driver's license under RSA 263 or an identification card under RSA 260:21.
I encourage anyone who ever doubts that NH is truly the greatest state in the nation to go to:
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/live/default.html
Click on afternoon video for March 8th, and fast forward to 4:08.
Listen to the floor debate on HB 1582, paying particular attention to the speech by Rep. Kurk of Weare.
It's a thing of beauty. It gave me shivers. Once in awhile everybody gets one wrong. Representative Kurk got this one very very right. The people of Weare should be proud to have such representation. The resulting vote made me proud to live in such a place where such speeches are met with resounding applause.