Friday, March 10, 2006
New Hampshire Votes Against Nat'l I.D. Card
On March 8th, the New Hampshire House of Reps overturned a committee recommendation to kill a bill that would prohibit the State from participating in any Federal I.D. Card system that may be passed by Congress. In a 270-84 voice vote the New Hampshire House passed the bill.
House Bill 1582 was introduced by Representatives Marple, Souza, Phinizy, Christiansen and Kurk in the Transportation Committee in January.
The bill is pretty simple and straight forward. The text of the bill reads:
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 suppose that this bill needs to go to the NH Senate and thence to the Governor's desk for signing to be complete, but that it got out of the House is a good first step. It also has quite a large majority in favor as well.
In any case, kudos to the New Hampshire legislature for taking this step to insure the freedom of her citizens. A national I.D. card is more pernicious than even a suspension of Habeas Corpus! At least a suspension of Habeas would eventually be overturned as such an outrage against the Constitution could never stand for long, but a national I.D. card is "small" enough to survive for any length of time.
Thanks to the Freestateproject.org for the info. It seems that New Hampshireites really DO mean "Live free or die".
# posted by Publius @ 3/10/2006 01:12:00 PM 
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Bills can't die in committee in New Hampshire, so if a committee doesn't like it, they vote it Inexpedient to Legislate, or ITL. The 400 member house can vote to agree, and thus kill the bill, or vote to disagree. On this bill they had a roll call vote 270-84 to overturn the committee ITL vote (which was 12-1). It was then passed in a very loud voice vote.
A clip of the impassioned speech in favor of this bill by Rep Neal Kurk can be found here:
http://freestateblogs.net/files/images/Kurk_RealID.mpg
The full video of that afternoon is here:
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/housevideo/sessions/2006-03-08pm.asx
The debate on this bill starts at hour 4, 7 minutes and 57 seconds. After Kurk's speech you can hear from a rep arguing that while he hates Real ID, the feds are giving NH $3 million to adopt it, and money is you know, nice. Clearly the NH House of Representatives did not agree that liberty should be for sale in this case.
Thanks for posting this WTH!
A clip of the impassioned speech in favor of this bill by Rep Neal Kurk can be found here:
http://freestateblogs.net/files/images/Kurk_RealID.mpg
The full video of that afternoon is here:
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/housevideo/sessions/2006-03-08pm.asx
The debate on this bill starts at hour 4, 7 minutes and 57 seconds. After Kurk's speech you can hear from a rep arguing that while he hates Real ID, the feds are giving NH $3 million to adopt it, and money is you know, nice. Clearly the NH House of Representatives did not agree that liberty should be for sale in this case.
Thanks for posting this WTH!
# posted by 
: 3/10/2006 03:52:00 PM
: 3/10/2006 03:52:00 PM
Thank Goodness that some people (ie the NH legisators) are still willing to place the good of the country above money. Right on NH.
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# posted by : 3/28/2006 06:39:00 PM
: 3/28/2006 06:39:00 PM << Home
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