INTERNACIONAL
REAL ID sees nationwide state government compliance ahead of deadline, but it wasn’t always that way
While all 50 states, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories are all currently in compliance ahead of the federal deadline of May 7, REAL ID was once roundly opposed by several state governments.
As soon as two years after the law’s 2005 passage by President George W. Bush, several state leaders had already expressed objections to complying with the nationwide standard.
Then-Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer, a Democrat, called REAL ID a «harebrained scheme» in a 2008 NPR interview.
«[W]e are putting up with the federal government on so many fronts, and nearly every month they come out with another… unfunded mandate to tell us that our life is going to be better if we’ll just buckle under on some other kind of rule or regulation,» Schweitzer said.
NO ‘REAL ID’ APPOINTMENTS OPEN IN NEW JERSEY AS RESIDENTS SOUND OFF: ‘GET WITH THE TIMES, NJ’
REAL ID enforcement is set to take effect on May 7. (Getty Images)
«And we usually just play along for a while, we ignore them for as long as we can, and we try not to bring it to a head. But if it comes to a head, we found that it’s best to just tell them to go to hell and run the state the way you want to run your state.»
One year prior, Schweitzer signed a law banning Montana’s DMV from enforcing REAL ID stipulations, calling it a «threat to privacy» in a letter to then-Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter, also a Democrat.
Not too far west in Washington state, fellow Democratic Gov. Christine Gregoire signed similar legislation that required the feds to appropriate $250 million to cover the unfunded mandate.
«[E]ven worse, it doesn’t protect the privacy of the citizens of Washington,» Gregoire claimed when signing the bill.
On the Republican side, then-Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett signed a law in 2008 halting PennDOT’s implementation of REAL ID.
«Neither the governor nor the Department of Transportation or any other Commonwealth agency shall participate in the REAL ID Act of 2005 or regulations promulgated thereunder,» Act 38’s text read.
The policy was later reversed by Act 3 of 2017, signed by Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf.
‘MASS SURVEILLANCE’: CONSERVATIVES SOUND ALARM OVER TRUMP ADMIN’S REAL ID ROLLOUT
Meanwhile, New Jersey has the lowest reported compliance with REAL ID, according to a CBS News analysis, with only 17% of the population having one – and many complaining of not enough bandwidth for the state to handle the number of applications.
On Wednesday, Kentucky Republican state Sen. Jimmy Higdon, wrote to DHS asking for an extension to the May 7 enforcement date, according to the Lexington Herald-Leader.
State compliance with REAL ID means that a state has met the federal security standards outlined by DHS for the actual issuance of drivers’ licenses. Since all states have done so, they are considered compliant.
Because the program is optional for the licenseholder – due to the alternatives, like passports – an insufficient proportion of residents not having REAL IDs does not affect statistical state compliance.
REAL ID requirements, endeavored out of a post-9/11 national security law from then-Rep. James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., dictate that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will no longer accept a photo-ID that does not have a star in the upper corner denoting verification, unless it is a passport.
To become verified, Americans must provide Social Security information or other personal identifiers.
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The law’s implementation date has been delayed several times, due to COVID and concerns about varied state compliance and states’ abilities to summon the necessary resources to meet federal standards.
Fox News Digital reached out for comment from the current governors of the three states referenced: Democrat Bob Ferguson of Washington, Republican Greg Gianforte of Montana and Democrat Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania.
Politics,Homeland Security,Washington,Montana,Pennsylvania,Governors
INTERNACIONAL
Cerraron el féretro del Papa Francisco y el Vaticano se prepara para el histórico funeral del sábado
Más de 150 delegaciones extranjeras
El féretro con los restos de Francisco son llevados este viernes a la basílica de San Pedro. Foto: REUTERS Cardenales y candidatos a Papa
El Vaticano ya tiene preparado el lugar donde estará el féretro de Francisco durante el funeral de este sábado. Foto: REUTERSINTERNACIONAL
Senator joins group of far-left lawmakers who think Trump has — again — committed impeachable offenses
Sen. John Ossoff of Georgia has become the latest Democrat in Congress to signal that President Donald Trump deserves to be impeached, even though he has only been in the White House this term for less than 100 days.
During a town hall Friday in Cobb County, Georgia, Ossoff took questions from the audience, including from a fired-up local mother who questioned Ossoff about why there has not been a more concerted effort to impeach Trump.
«Why are there no calls for impeachment?» Ossoff was asked. «Do something more!»
‘BIDEN EFFECT’ HITS THE SENATE: WAVE OF RETIREMENTS CLEARS PATH FOR YOUNGER DEMS
Ossoff told the woman at the top of his response that «there is no doubt» Trump has exceeded the standard for impeachment.
Sen. John Ossoff, D-Ga., has become the latest Democrat in Congress to signal that President Donald Trump deserves to be impeached, even though he has only been in the White House during his second term for less than 100 days. (Getty Images/Fox News)
«I saw just 48 hours ago, [Trump] is granting audiences to people who buy his meme coin,» Ossoff said. «There is no question that that rises to the level of an impeachable offense. And the reality is that that’s just one of many [examples] — defying a federal court order, for example. So, I agree with you.»
Ossoff’s remarks make him the latest Democratic lawmaker in Congress who has either explicitly called for Trump’s impeachment or signaled their willingness to support such a move just 100 days into his presidency. While most Democrats have been willing to publicly admit the country is facing a constitutional crisis under Trump, most of them have refrained from going so far as to use the «I» word.
DEMS FUME OVER ‘DUE PROCESS’ FOR ABREGO GARCIA DESPITE LONG HISTORY OF PARTY BUCKING THE LEGAL PRINCIPLE
Some though, such as progressive Sen. Al Green, D-Texas, have not shied away from supporting calls for impeachment. He was the first congressional lawmaker to call for it just weeks into the president’s second term. Green’s calls have been supported by other Democrats, such as Reps. Suzanne Bonamici and Maxine Dexter of Oregon; Sam Liccardo and Maxine Waters of California; Ilhan Omar of Minnesota; Shri Thanedar of Michigan; and Hank Johnson of Georgia, all of whom have gone publicly on the record regarding their support, according to NBC News.
«Right now, it’s 218 to 215, so if you can find me two Republicans, I’ll go to work tomorrow,» Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., who led impeachment efforts against Trump during his first term, told a reporter when asked about the matter.
From left: Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md.; Rep. Al Green, D-Texas; and Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga. (Getty Images/Fox News)
Trent England, a presidential elections expert and founder of the nonprofit Save Our States, bashed Democratic lawmakers for «claiming to be all about democracy,» but when they don’t get what they want, «suddenly democracy is not what they’re all about.»
«It really undercuts Democrats’ message about elections when as soon as they get an election result they don’t like, they’re out challenging it through impeachment. Especially when Democrats claimed after 2016 that part of their issue with Trump was that he only won the Electoral College,» England added. «Well, now he’s won a resounding popular vote, in addition to winning the Electoral College. And, yet, they’re still out there trying to impeach him at the very beginning of his administration.»
REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK: IMPEACHAPALOOZA IS HERE TO STAY
England also opined that the calls for impeachment were an easy way for Democrats to help boost their fundraising efforts.
«Efforts like this show how a lot of members of Congress are really operating as personal fundraising machines, as opposed to legislators,» England said. «They’re not trying to get things done. They know that using platforms like Act Blue, they can fly the impeachment flag and raise a lot of money from left-wing donors without ever believing that any of this is going to have any effect.»
The first-term Democratic senator is facing re-election later this year, as his term ends early next year. Ossoff’s office declined to comment for this story.
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In a statement to Fox News Digital, National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman Tim Scott said Ossoff’s push for impeachment illustrates «the desperation of his re-election campaign.»
«Not even 100 days into President Donald J. Trump’s terms, and Ossoff is already pushing impeachment,» Scott said. «His obsession makes clear just how out of touch he is with Georgia voters. The desperation in his re-election campaign is already showing.»
Trump Impeachment,Georgia,Senate,Politics,Trump’s First 100 Days
INTERNACIONAL
Murió un destacado general ruso en un atentado con coche bomba cerca de Moscú: el Kremlin lo atribuyó a Ucrania
El Kremlin acusó este viernes a Ucrania por la muerte del teniente general Yaroslav Moskalik, quien falleció a consecuencia de un coche bomba en Balashikha, en las afueras de la capital rusa, según informaron el Comité de Investigación de Rusia y medios estatales.
Moskalik, de 59 años, se desempeñaba como subjefe de la Dirección Principal de Operaciones del Estado Mayor de las Fuerzas Armadas de Rusia, un puesto clave en la planificación de operaciones militares, incluidos los combates en Ucrania.
De acuerdo con el comunicado del Comité de Investigación, el militar murió al acercarse a un Volkswagen Golf estacionado frente a su residencia, donde un artefacto explosivo improvisado, cargado con metralla, fue detonado de forma remota.
La portavoz del Ministerio de Exteriores ruso, Maria Zajarova, afirmó que “hay motivos para creer que los servicios especiales ucranianos están implicados en el asesinato”, basándose en el conocimiento previo que estos tendrían de Moskalik debido a su participación en las negociaciones de paz en el Grupo de Contacto de Minsk y el formato de Normandía.
El Servicio Federal de Seguridad de Rusia (FSB) indicó que está investigando el ataque y señaló que el último propietario del vehículo era originario de Sumi, en Ucrania.
Imágenes difundidas por medios rusos mostraron un vehículo incendiado con la parte delantera destruida frente al edificio de apartamentos donde residía el general. Testigos reportaron que la explosión se produjo hacia las 10:45, hora local (07:45 GMT). La policía acordonó la zona y retiró un cuerpo cubierto con una sábana blanca.
El asesinato de Moskalik ocurre en un contexto de tensión creciente, y en medio de los esfuerzos de mediación del enviado del presidente estadounidense Donald Trump, Steve Witkoff, quien se reunió con el presidente ruso Vladimir Putin en Moscú este viernes para discutir propuestas de paz relativas al conflicto ucraniano. Se trató de su cuarto encuentro desde febrero.
El atentado también recuerda al ocurrido en diciembre de 2024, cuando el jefe de las Fuerzas de Protección Radiológica, Química y Biológica de Rusia, el teniente general Igor Kirillov, murió en circunstancias similares tras la explosión de un artefacto colocado en un scooter eléctrico frente a su vivienda. En ese caso, el Servicio de Seguridad de Ucrania (SBU) reconoció su implicación.
Aunque las autoridades rusas insisten en señalar a Ucrania como responsable, hasta ahora no se han presentado pruebas públicas, y Kiev no ha realizado comentarios sobre el incidente. Según el portal Gazeta.ru, en ambos atentados los atacantes habrían estudiado meticulosamente las rutinas diarias de las víctimas para ejecutar las explosiones.
Según el canal de Telegram Rybar, Moskalik era considerado “uno de los oficiales más inteligentes y exigentes” del Estado Mayor ruso, y se encontraba bajo consideración para dirigir el Centro de Gestión de la Defensa Nacional, el máximo organismo de comando y control de las fuerzas armadas rusas.
En paralelo, el dirigente de la región de Osetia del Norte, Serguéi Menyailo, declaró a la agencia RIA Novosti que Ucrania “tiene atragantadas a personas como Yaroslav”, reforzando las acusaciones que apuntan hacia Kiev como autor intelectual del ataque.
El Comité de Investigación ha abierto una causa penal por asesinato y terrorismo, mientras las autoridades refuerzan las medidas de seguridad en torno a altos mandos militares tras reconocer anteriores fallos en la protección de sus oficiales.
(Con información de AP, AFP, EFE y Reuters)
Europe,Civil Unrest,Balashikha
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Murió el papa Francisco, líder espiritual y político del siglo XXI
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