Virginia gets serious:

I'm quoting from a Government Technology news story. Virginia's going to do some serious planning, but apparently the task force is not supposed to consider whether to get rid of Real ID altogether.


Governor Mark R. Warner yesterday announced the creation of the Governor's Task Force on the Real ID Act. ...
The Real ID Task Force will study how the new identification laws approved by Congress will affect the cost, customer service, security, and privacy of Virginia's driver's licensing and identification process. The group will also provide recommendations on how best to implement the new law in Virginia. DMV Commissioner D.B. Smit will serve as chairman.

Specific task force responsibilities include:

* Reviewing the Real ID Act and raising public awareness about its potential impact on Virginia, including but not limited to the potential increased cost of licensure, administrative burdens on the public and businesses, and the potential benefits of the Act;

* Exploring options for compliance with the Act while protecting the security and integrity of Virginians' personal information;

* Recommending action steps to be taken at the federal and state levels to minimize the impacts of any unfunded federal mandates, remove impediments to compliance, and to ease the cost and administrative burden of the Act;

* Identifying a timeline for implementation; and

* Recommending strategies for Virginia to take to address the Act.

Governor Warner appointed 13 members to the Real ID Task Force.