The Minnesota Grocers Association may have named representative Dennis Smith, R-Maple Grove, as a 2016 Hero of the Food Industry.
But to the anonymous administrator of the Minnesota 7th Congressional District Republican Party Facebook page,his bill to make state drivers licenses conform to federal Real ID requirements is the first step toward the creation of a "special Fed License to purchase Groceries."
Of course, these fears only make Bluestem Prairie happy that we grow our own and keep a small flock of hard-working hens.
The CD7 Republicans shared their fears along with an article from KSTP-5, Minnesota House Committee Approves Real ID Act Legislation in this headnote:
Let you Legislators know Minnesota should not have a Real ID Driver's Licience. When did we need "papers" to travel to another State in the Union? We cannot allow the Feds to control our Citizen's ability to travel from one place to another. Plus - You cannot be denied your rights to fly by TSA if you don't have this special license. This is nothing but an effort of the Feds to grab more control over a State controled function. What is next? A special Fed License to purchase Groceries? Remember - Obamacare stopped you from buying Insurance across State Lines.
Oh noes. (Of course, Minnesota turned down bills to allow the purchase of health insurance across state lines before Obamacare was enacted, if the Department of Never Mind at the National Conference of State Legislatures is to be believed).
Here's the screengrab:
Rachel Stassen Berger reports in Real ID bill passes first test in Minnesota House, but access at issue that th most recent rumpus over the bill is a restriction preventing undocumented workers from obtaining licenses. Minnesota law needs to be changed, she reports, because:
Minnesotans — and many of the lawmakers who represent them — generally want the state to make its driver’s licenses valid for airplane travel and other federal purposes before next year.
Minnesota is one of just three states that have not changed their licenses to comply with the federal requirements and have never received an extension to do so, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The other two are Missouri and Washington. Four other states have expiring extensions to comply.
The Department of Homeland Security last year said that by January 2018, it would require Real ID-compliant licenses from all states. States granted extensions to change their licenses would have until 2020.
Heckova slippery slope toward making the feds the grocery cops.
Photo: Is Rep. Dennis Smith, center, really trying to get the feds to license that adorable shopping cart? Or just trying to get Minnesotans on a plane? (If we recall correctly, the dual-track license solution was part of Representative Rick Hansen's proposal last January,but why solve a problem when an entire caucus can dither for another year). Image via Press and News.
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