Missourians’s IDs might not get them onto commercial flights soon, and the state legislature is just beginning to look into the issue.
Ten years ago the federal government passed the Real ID Act, with stricter standards for state-issued IDs including driver’s licenses. Missouri lawmakers blocked those requirements. Last week, the Department of Homeland Security informed the state last week that the ID’s are not compliant with federal standards.
Rep. Jake Hummel (D-St. Louis)
House Democrat Leader Jake Hummel said a solution needs to be found before Missourians can’t board planes.
“In 120 days, we may have a very serious issue on our hands if Missourians are not allowed to travel because those ID’s are no longer valid. I think that’s an issue we are going to have to fix,” said Hummel.
“I think if you look at what is actually required, we’re not that far off from what we currently do with our ID’s but because we have specifically passed a law blocking us from telling the federal government that we are in compliance, we are going to have to remove that barrier that we put in place in 2009 at a minimum.”
House Speaker Todd Richardson
House Speaker Todd Richardson (R-Poplar Bluff) said those with Missouri driver’s licenses or state issued ID’s won’t be allowed onto military bases and most other federal facilities effective Sunday.
“I’ve asked Chairman Elijah Haahr and the Emerging Issues Committee to take a look specifically at that issue,” said Richardson. “I know he intends to move very quickly to try to get some answers from the Department of Revenue on exactly what the problem is. I expect he’ll begin that work next week.”
Missouri might have to re-issue IDs.
