Gov. Jim Doyle slammed compliance rules outlining states' implementation of the federal identification program REAL ID that were announced Thursday by the Department of Homeland Security.
Passed by Congress in 2005, the REAL ID program establishes federal standards for state driver's licenses, which will be required to enter federal buildings, such as nuclear power plants, and board federally regulated commercial aircraft.
Some officials have criticized the program because it offers little federal funding to states. At a press conference Thursday, DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff said the department would grant states up to 20 percent of this year's DHS funding — about $100 million.
In his two-year budget, Doyle proposed increasing Wisconsin's driver's license fee by $10 to supplement costs associated with the REAL ID program. Doyle's office said the fee could generate $22 million over the budget.
"We have always known this law would be a nightmare for motorists and taxpayers, and President Bush's rules have just confirmed that nightmare," Doyle said in a March 1 statement. "Unless Congress acts to provide more flexibility and resources, get ready for higher fees, longer lines, fewer DMV centers and a major headache when you go to renew your license."
State and federal officials estimate the nationwide program will cost $11 billion over the next five years. Chertoff said he could not comment on whether additional funding would be available in the future because it would largely depend on the federal budget.
While Doyle criticizes the program's costs, he also said he opposes the program's new deadline for compliance — May 11, 2008. States may also apply for a "justifiable extension" and start issuing compliant cards Jan. 1, 2010.
"The limited extensions that the president is offering won't do anything to help states like Wisconsin and are clearly no substitute for the resources it will take to implement this law," Doyle said. "Protecting our nation from terrorism is a vital priority, and that's why Washington ought to provide the funding to do the job."
Doyle said the extension ignores time concerns because the new rules do not change the date which all IDs must be compliant, which is May 10, 2013.
Gary Guenther, director of bureau field services for the Wisconsin Department of Motor Vehicles, said he fully agrees with the governor's concerns, but also said he thinks Wisconsin can implement the program on time.
"What we had hoped for (in the new rules) … really didn't get addressed," Guenther said. "All that being said, if we can begin implementing, we will do our very best."
Guenther said it's probably in the best interest of taxpayers to comply with the law, otherwise people will be required to use another form of verifiable federal identification, like a passport, to travel commercial airlines even within the United States.
Some congressmen and governors have suggested repealing the law, but Guenther said at this point, his opinions are irrelevant.
"Certainly it's possible that something will be reviewed," Guenther said, but considering the rules were just announced, the DMV is going to focus its time on reviewing and analyzing how the new rules match original estimates, he added.
"We knew we had to get something in the biennial budget," Guenther said, adding it is entirely possible the state may need to expand Doyle's proposed $10 driver's license fee increase.
