Monday, May 16, 2005

Two Bad Bills, and they have F. Jim's name on them

It's been a while since we've updated here at the all-things-anti-Sensenbrenner ranch. So we're going to hit two balls with one bat:

By now you have probably heard of the REAL ID bill. This is F. Jim's pet project, leftover from last fall's inter-Republican fights. UNREAL ID has all the skinny you need. Essentially, the REAL ID is designed to be a national ID card. It adds countless layers of bureaucracy to the process of getting identification. (This is a big deal, considering how many states--including Wisconsin--are making moves toward requiring state ID to vote!) This is Big Brother come to life and from Brookfield.

The second bill is another of F. Jim's projects, the bill that, among other things, "provides for a two year jail sentence if you observe or come across information about drug distribution near colleges and do not report it to authorities within 24 hours and provide full assistance investigating, apprehending, and prosecuting those involved." That's right: Don't Snitch, Go To Jail. The Drug Policy Alliance has more.