Tag: Real ID

Notes from the Electronic Cottage 4/23/09

Producer/Host: Jim Campbell

During this last month of WERU’s 20th Anniversary year, we’re digging into old editions from the Electronic Cottage vault that seem to us to be just as relevant today as they were when they were first broadcast. This edition from June of 2008 may even be more relevant today. It discusses the federal Real ID Act, a law that would essentially establish a national ID card for the first time in American history. Maine was the first state to pass a law saying that the state would not participate in the federal Real ID Act. That law is still on the books but when push came to shove last year, under pressure from the Department of Homeland Security, the governor and a bare majority of legislators passed two laws that bring the Real ID Act to Maine despite the Maine law saying the state would not participate. Now there is a bill in the Maine legislature, LD 1357, that would repeal Maine’s Real ID law. (Note that there is currently no effort underway to collect signatures for a people’s veto as mentioned in this edition from the archives.)

Notes from the Electronic Cottage 7/10/08

Producer/Host: Jim Campbell

Today we follow-up on some topics we’ve looked at recently because in both the digital world and the physical world with which it interacts, things can change fast.   Let’s look at some updates on the FISA Amendments Act of 2008,  ISP tracking of user click streams, and Maine’s “no it isn’t, but yes it is” dance around the Real ID Act.

RadioActive 6/26/08

Today we bring you an episode of the public access program “This Issue”.  Interviewer Bruce Gagnon talks with two activists involved with the movement for a People’s Veto of Real ID in Maine : Lu Bauer and Chris Miller of “Maine People for Real Freedom”.   55,000 signatures on petitions are needed by July 17th to get a people’s veto on the ballots in November.  This interview took place May 23, 2008 and is used with the producer’s consent.  A special thanks to Jane Sanford who provided WERU with the tape

FMI; www.realrepeal.net and www.mclu.org

Notes from the Electronic Cottage 6/05/08

Producer/Host: Jim Campbell

Law affects technology. And technology affects law. A good example of the latter is the Real ID act which, despite opposition from over half of the states, is still being put into effect by Homeland Security. Maine offers a good example of what happens when push comes to shove in the effort to create a de facto national ID card and national database of all driving age citizens.