Legislative inaction on Real ID could be a real problem for Alaskans who travel or work on military

[TexasTowelie]

Legislative inaction on Real ID could be a real problem for Alaskans who travel or work on military bases

JUNEAU — A state-federal showdown over official identification appears increasingly likely to cause problems for Alaskans, whose driver's licenses could be rejected by airport security as soon as January without legislative action this year.

Alaska has an exemption from enforcement of the federal Real ID Act through June 6. After that, Alaskans' driver's licenses won't be enough to access military bases and other federal facilities — with the same restrictions kicking in at airports Jan. 18.

Alaskans would have to use another form of ID instead, like a passport.

Gov. Bill Walker this week has been pushing lawmakers to advance his bill bringing the state in line with Real ID's standards. But Alaska lawmakers from both parties have balked at it, arguing that its record-keeping and collection requirements enable the growth of the "surveillance state."

Read more: https://www.adn.com/politics/legislature/2017/03/23/legislative-inaction-on-real-id-could-be-real-problem-for-alaskans-who-travel-or-work-on-bases/