The Department of Homeland Security informed the state last month that Missouri’s IDs are not compliant with federal standards. A senate committee is considering Ryan Silvey’s (R-Kansas City) bill that would allow the Department of Revenue to issue REAL ID compliant driver’s licenses and ID cards.
Senator Ryan Silvey (R-Kansas City)
“The federal government has started becoming more and more restrictive to what your nonReal ID compliant license will give you access to. They’ve recently restricted access to federal buildings and military bases,” said Silvey.
“Particularly this has become a problem in Missouri on our military bases because of all the civilian contractors that have to come on and off the bases and now have to deal with that extra level of scrutiny.”
If Missouri doesn’t comply, residents could also eventually not be allowed to board planes.
Kerry Messer with the Missouri Family Network opposes the bill.
“Our military bases are allowing people to come on for graduation ceremonies. Truckers who have problems with access after 4:30 p.m. have that same problem in the private industry,” said Messer.
Messer said the state would be giving in to the federal government.
“There are people in the federal government who are deliberately harassing the states to try to force the states into compliance, when in fact they sold REAL ID to the nation at the federal level with this grand promise that the states could opt out,” said Messer.
Silvey’s bill would leave it up to individuals to decide for themselves if they even want a REAL ID.
The fiscal note on Silvey’s bill says the administrative costs for the Department of Revenue, local governments and small businesses are $0 or unknown. Since Silvey’s bill would give individuals the option of choosing a REAL ID, citizens who choose to might end up paying for the ID.
