ST. PAUL, Minn — Sitting on the floor of the Minnesota House for weeks, lawmakers finally voted on the controversial Real ID bill.
In a 72-58 vote, Real ID passed in the House.
As reported by Alpha News MN, the House version of Real ID has found controversy on both sides of the aisle. Following three hours of debate on the House Floor, the bill moved forward without an amendment to remove the controversial language.
House Democrats have taken issue with line 6.25 of the bill stating undocumented workers would not be eligible for identification cards.
Minnesota currently has a rule in place forbidding undocumented foreigners from obtaining a driver’s license. However, the incorporation of line 6.25 would turn the rule into a statute.
Rules can be overturned with other rules, however, the clause regarding undocumented immigrants would become a statute within Minnesota law should the bill be passed and signed by the Governor.
Some activists and Republicans in the House have found trouble with Real ID as it gives control of identification to the Federal Government.
As reported by Alpha News MN, Real ID opponent and President of Citizen’s Council of Health Freedom’s Twila Brase claims, “federal control over driver’s licenses and ID cards is a violation of states’ rights and individual rights’ under the 10th Amendment.”
Opponents also believe the new identification system violates data privacy by creating a centralized hub of information on every American with a Real ID. Brase claims the official purpose of Real ID can continue to expand under the authority of the Director of Homeland Security without congressional approval.
As reported by Alpha News MN, conservative activists questioned why certain lawmakers went missing during House Committee votes. Reps. Eric Lucero (R-Dayton), Cindy Pugh (R-Chanhassen), and Cal Bahr (R-East Bethel) disappeared before votes in their respective committees. All three voted against the Real ID bill on Thursday night.
Real ID is currently moving through the Senate. However, the Senate’s version of the bill does not include the undocumented immigrant’s clause. Governor Mark Dayton has said he will sign the Real ID bill if it reaches his desk.
Preya Samsundar
Preya Samsundar was born and raised in Minneapolis, MN. She graduated from the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities this Spring with a B.A. in Political Science and Sociology, with a minor in Strategic Communications. Preya has previously worked on several State Campaign Races.
