.bmp)
.bmp)
SPRINGFIELD-With Illinois budget talks festering in turmoil, a spokesman for Secretary of State Jesse White said they'll likely have to look elsewhere to find money to pay for a new federal driver's license program.One option is asking the federal government for money to pay for the Real ID Act, a law that would eventually require people to have nationally standardized driver's licenses to board a plane or enter a federal building.Some Democrats aren't keen on the Real ID Act, which was approved while Republicans controlled Congress.“These burdensome and unworkable mandates on the states will mean significant expense and long processing delays that will impact every American,” said Democratic U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin.Gov. Rod Blagojevich has joined with other governors across the country in urging that the federal government should pay for their own program, said spokesman Gerardo Cardenas.The U.S. House approved $50 million in grants for the states last month, but the cost of the law in Illinois alone for next year is expected to be $22 million.Another option to cover the shortfall could be to raise fees on driver's licenses or other services, forcing residents to pay more for the right to drive.Lawmakers would likely have to sign off on such a move.Cardenas said Tuesday that he wouldn't speculate on whether the governor would eventually ask for a fee increase to pay for Real ID.The purpose of the new ID card would be to tighten national security by making it easier for law enforcement to track people or make it harder for terrorists to get ID cards.Still, state lawmakers nationwide, including in Illinois, have approved nonbinding resolutions opposing the act, usually over privacy concerns.Lawmakers' lack of support is why Dave Druker, spokesman for Jesse White's office, says he's not counting on the state to pay the $22 million needed to begin implementing the Real ID Act next year.“I think it just makes very clear the feelings of the General Assembly,” he said. As in the days of Noah...
