Candidates for governor have qualms about federal ID requirements

CONCORD, N.H. --New Hampshire's next governor -- regardless of party -- opposes new, strict federal standards for drivers' licenses, due to concerns over the security and privacy of the information supplied by the public to obtain them.

Democratic Gov. John Lynch, Republican Jim Coburn and Libertarian Richard Kahn also believe the state's economy may be hurt by new federal rules that will require passports or other high-tech ID cards for people entering the country after short visits to Canada. Currently, a driver's license usually suffices.

The three candidates expressed their views in response to an Associated Press survey on homeland security.

The three are united in opposing the federal Real ID Act, an anti-terrorism law which critics say would effectively create a national identification card system.

"I believe the federal government has yet to answer important questions about Real ID, including about the tremendous cost on states and state taxpayers for implementing this program, and about how personal data will be safeguarded," Lynch said last week.

Lynch supported legislation this year -- killed by the Senate -- that would have prohibited New Hampshire from implementing the law. The bill put New Hampshire at the forefront of opposition to the Real ID Act.

Real ID grew out of recommendations by the Sept. 11 Commission, which studied the terrorist attacks and how to prevent a recurrence. It requires that by 2008, states verify birth certificates, Social Security numbers, passports and immigration status when people get driver's licenses.

The licenses must be machine-readable and state databases with driver information and photos will be linked in what opponents have called a national database.

"We have seen many cases recently of personal data being compiled and then lost, stolen, or mishandled," Coburn said. "The creation of such a broad national database would create the very real possibility of the data being used for illegitimate purposes, or even government purposes for which it was never intended."

Kahn said the federal law creating a national ID card would "dramatically increasing the power of the central government."

"Nazi Germany and Rwanda have used national ID cards to commit genocide," Kahn said.

Both the Real ID Act and the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, which will require passports or other special identification for cross-border foreign travel, are intended to strengthen security, but the three candidates question how effective they will be.

The new restriction for air and sea travel to Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Bermuda starts Dec. 31. It will be expanded to land border crossings on Dec. 31, 2007.

Requiring passports "will lull people into a false sense of security while doing nothing to make this country safer," said Kahn.

Lynch noted that one alternative being considered because it would be cheaper than a passport -- a "PASS" card -- still could add $285 to a family of five's travel costs whether they planned multiple trips or just one. The time needed to get the card would discourage spontaneous weekend trips to New Hampshire to ski, shop, vacation or visit, he said.

"I believe we should consider alternative forms of identification and exempt children so that it would still be relatively affordable for Canadian families to come visit the United States," he said.

Coburn said one possible alternative would be to improve state drivers' licenses to make them resistant to counterfeiting. He added that he believes Canadians eventually will become used to showing a passport to enter the United States.

On another security issue, the three agreed the National Guard plays a crucial role during disasters, such as the state's recent floods. But they disagreed on the role the Guard should play in policing borders outside New Hampshire and serving in Iraq.

The governor commands the Guard, but has no role in determining federal deployments, noted Lynch. New Hampshire joined a compact with other states to pitch in if needed -- such as after Hurricane Katrina, he added.

"It was important we kept that commitment," he said.

Lynch said he and the commander of the state Guard are discussing President Bush's call for the Guard to patrol the Mexican border.

Coburn said he would limit an out-of-state deployment if New Hampshire would be left without sufficient troops to handle an emergency of its own.

Kahn said he opposes deployments outside the state.

"It is called the National Guard, not the International Guard," he said. "As for patrolling the Mexican border, what is our Border Patrol for?"

He said other states should rely on their own Guards in emergencies.

On immigration, Lynch said the state doesn't have the resources to enforce federal immigration laws. He noted that he signed a law that increases fines for employers who knowingly employ illegal immigrants.

Coburn said the state should play a stronger role in detaining illegal immigrants.

"We need to have the ability to enforce employment laws so only legal residents can find work in New Hampshire. We also need to have an avenue to turn persons of illegal status over to the federal government to be dealt with properly, not simply released back into the population," Coburn said.

Kahn said the real problem is extending public health care, housing and education to illegal immigrants -- practices he would stop.