news-record.com

RALEIGH -- North Carolina would stop spending state tax dollars to comply with the federal Real ID Act under a measure that passed the House Transportation Committee this morning.

Under the measure, the state would still apply for grants and other federal funding, but would not spend local tax dollars on a $20 million computer system or $21.7 million in annual costs needed to come into compliance.

"This is an unfunded mandate we should not have to live with," said Rep. Nelson Cole, a Rockingham Democrat and the bill's sponsor.

The Real ID Act's stated purpose is to make identification more secure so that illegal immigrants, terrorists and others will have a harder time getting documents.

Opposition to the bill comes in two varieties: objections to the costs and objections to the civil liberties implications.

The licenses, say some advocates, create a national identification card and will contain information that law enforcement agencies don't need.

"They're going to know more about you than you know about yourself," Cole said.

Already, at least 10 states have taken steps similar to North Carolina and at least seven more have considered similar legislation.

The prospects for this measure are uncertain. The legislative session is expected to end on Friday and the bill has still not had a hearing on the House floor or been considered by the Senate.