GOVERNOR WILL NOT IMPLEMENT UNFUNDED, FEDERALLY-MANDATED PROGRAM

Gov. Mark Sanford renewed his fight against the unfunded, federally-mandated REAL ID program in a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano this week.

Sanford said on Friday that he penned the letter to update the federal government on South Carolina’s progress in enacting the program, which requires all states comply with a list of standards aimed at creating more secure identification cards and driver’s licenses. But the governor also used the correspondence to reiterate his concerns with the program.

“South Carolina continues to make strides toward protecting the personal information contained in our driver’s licenses, including technological advances that enhance security and guard against fraud and ID theft,” said Sanford. “Given that our state’s driver’s licenses continue to be among the most secure in the nation, we remain skeptical of claims that REAL ID or PASS ID is the safest and wisest route for our state and country.”

[READ THE FULL LETTER]

Sanford said the REAL ID program is a violation of Constitutionally-protected rights and that his administration would not be implementing the program. A 2007 state law also bars South Carolina from complying.

“While attempts to contain some of the costs associated with REAL ID in the recently amended legislation are commendable, this federal mandate still infringes on liberty and privacy rights, and in this case, discretion and caution indeed seem the better part of valor,” Sanford said. “So for that reason, and for the fact that our state law currently prevents South Carolina from complying with REAL ID, we will continue to stand out from under this unfunded federal mandate.”

In the letter dated Nov. 30, Sanford told Napolitano that, even though he would not be enacting the program in South Carolina, the state will continue to follow stringent security protocols and procedures.

South Carolina was initially given until March 31, 2008 to comply with the program or ask for an extension. Sanford did neither, saying that asking for an extension would imply an intent to comply.

The federal government granted the state an extension, anyway, meaning South Carolinians would still be allowed to board airplanes or enter federal facilities using only their state-issued driver’s licenses. Nov. 30 was the latest deadline for state’s to comply, and again the Homeland Security Department chose to let it pass without consequence.