Tester will fight Real ID, stays mum on presidential race
by Richard Werst
Montana's fight against a national identification card system could make it more difficult for Montanans to board domestic air flights.
So be it, according to Sen. Jon Tester.
I'll be one of them, Sen. Tester said, as he vowed to continue resisting implementation of the Federal Real ID Act of 2005. Sen. Tester made the remarks during a news conference with rural Montana newspapers last Thursday.
The Chronicle asked about Montana citizens concerned about not being able to board airplanes on domestic flights, allowed to cross borders, or to enter federal facilities unless the state implements the Real ID system.
Montana officials have been fighting the issue vigorously, according to Tester, in part because they feel it violates the rights of citizens to protect information that is important to them, and which the government has no business hearing about. Montana's Sen. Max Baucus and Gov. Brian Schweitzer share his view, Sen. Tester said.
The senator also cited the financial aspect of the act.
Most of the cost burden will be placed on the states, he said, adding that he felt the desired effect could be accomplished if the states were allowed to develop drivers licenses that were non-counterfeitable.
Real ID is not going to happen at this point in time, for the whole country, Tester said to sum up his view on the topic, at least not for a few years.
In a followup discussion, the senator's staff indicated that states have until March 31 to apply for an extension that will enable them to delay implementation of the Real ID system.
When asked about the consequences travelers might encounter, without one of the proposed ID, Tester staff member Aaron Murphy indicated that there might be additional security screenings at federal buildings and airports.
Committee hearings to address the issue were scheduled to take place March 12 as the Chronicle was going to press.
In light of his recent trip to Iraq with fellow freshman senator Jim Webb of Virgina, the Chronicle also asked Sen. Tester if he thought Sen. Webb would make a good running mate for one of the Democratic presidential hopefuls.
I know Jim well, I know his wife well, and they're both great people, he said. He is a quality human being. He would make a great vice-president--he'd make a great president some day if that is the direction he wants to go.
I can tell you what he told me and that was he wasn't interested, he said, Now if it comes down the pike, and gets closer to it, who knows? He told me pretty unequivocally he wasn't interested.
That brought up the question of which of the two Democratic presidential candidates the senator supports.
I'm a superdelegate and that question comes up quite often back here and in Montana, he replied. I'm going to let the popular election unfold in June and the primary. I'll be making a decision on what that vote is, he said, as well as who I think can win in November.
In other questions from Montana weekly newspaper reporters, Sen. Tester indicated that he was in support of legislation delisting the wolves and of the transferring of their management to the state level.
Turning the management over to the states is a great move, he said, adding that it had been a long time coming and that Montana had worked very hard to put a plan together to address the wolves.
In this particular case, unlike Real ID, he said, the administration had done, I think, a very good job.
He also commented on a recent trip to Montana with Secretary of Veterans Affairs James B. Peake.
We invited him, and he took us up on the invitation, he said, adding that he thought it was both good and important for Secretary Peake to see first-hand how far Montana's veterans have to travel for the services that are available in the State.
During the interview Sen. Tester introduced his new Communications Director Pat Devlin, a former member of the Carroll College Fighting Saints football team.
Devlin has served for the past 11 years as legislative director for Rep. Bob Etheridge, a farmer and the chairman of the U.S. House Agriculture Commodities Subcommittee.
With 11 years under his belt working for another farmer in Congress, Pat understands that rural is full of honest, hard-working folks who want their leaders to do right by working families, Sen. Tester said.
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Montana's fight against a national identification card system could make it more difficult for Montanans to board domestic air flights.
So be it, according to Sen. Jon Tester.
I'll be one of them, Sen. Tester said, as he vowed to continue resisting implementation of the Federal Real ID Act of 2005. Sen. Tester made the remarks during a news conference with rural Montana newspapers last Thursday.
The Chronicle asked about Montana citizens concerned about not being able to board airplanes on domestic flights, allowed to cross borders, or to enter federal facilities unless the state implements the Real ID system.
Montana officials have been fighting the issue vigorously, according to Tester, in part because they feel it violates the rights of citizens to protect information that is important to them, and which the government has no business hearing about. Montana's Sen. Max Baucus and Gov. Brian Schweitzer share his view, Sen. Tester said.
The senator also cited the financial aspect of the act.
Most of the cost burden will be placed on the states, he said, adding that he felt the desired effect could be accomplished if the states were allowed to develop drivers licenses that were non-counterfeitable.
Real ID is not going to happen at this point in time, for the whole country, Tester said to sum up his view on the topic, at least not for a few years.
In a followup discussion, the senator's staff indicated that states have until March 31 to apply for an extension that will enable them to delay implementation of the Real ID system.
When asked about the consequences travelers might encounter, without one of the proposed ID, Tester staff member Aaron Murphy indicated that there might be additional security screenings at federal buildings and airports.
Committee hearings to address the issue were scheduled to take place March 12 as the Chronicle was going to press.
In light of his recent trip to Iraq with fellow freshman senator Jim Webb of Virgina, the Chronicle also asked Sen. Tester if he thought Sen. Webb would make a good running mate for one of the Democratic presidential hopefuls.
I know Jim well, I know his wife well, and they're both great people, he said. He is a quality human being. He would make a great vice-president--he'd make a great president some day if that is the direction he wants to go.
I can tell you what he told me and that was he wasn't interested, he said, Now if it comes down the pike, and gets closer to it, who knows? He told me pretty unequivocally he wasn't interested.
That brought up the question of which of the two Democratic presidential candidates the senator supports.
I'm a superdelegate and that question comes up quite often back here and in Montana, he replied. I'm going to let the popular election unfold in June and the primary. I'll be making a decision on what that vote is, he said, as well as who I think can win in November.
In other questions from Montana weekly newspaper reporters, Sen. Tester indicated that he was in support of legislation delisting the wolves and of the transferring of their management to the state level.
Turning the management over to the states is a great move, he said, adding that it had been a long time coming and that Montana had worked very hard to put a plan together to address the wolves.
In this particular case, unlike Real ID, he said, the administration had done, I think, a very good job.
He also commented on a recent trip to Montana with Secretary of Veterans Affairs James B. Peake.
We invited him, and he took us up on the invitation, he said, adding that he thought it was both good and important for Secretary Peake to see first-hand how far Montana's veterans have to travel for the services that are available in the State.
During the interview Sen. Tester introduced his new Communications Director Pat Devlin, a former member of the Carroll College Fighting Saints football team.
Devlin has served for the past 11 years as legislative director for Rep. Bob Etheridge, a farmer and the chairman of the U.S. House Agriculture Commodities Subcommittee.
With 11 years under his belt working for another farmer in Congress, Pat understands that rural is full of honest, hard-working folks who want their leaders to do right by working families, Sen. Tester said.
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