ST. PAUL -- The House and Senate have approved a bill that would bar state driver's license authorities from implementing the federal Real ID regulations.
Governor Pawlenty vetoed an earlier attempt to require that conditions be met before the state could change licenses to meet federal rules. But both chambers passed the bill by veto-proof margins: 50-16 in the Senate and 103-30 in the House.
The Real ID mandate would require every citizen to carry a U.S. government-approved card to board a plane or enter a federal facility.
Critics say it will be costly to implement and that too much of people's personal information will be added to a national database. Supporters argue that a more secure identification card will help in homeland security and immigration control efforts.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
