Senate votes to block state spending on federal ID program

The Alaska Senate today passed a bill forbidding state agencies from spending any money to implement the federal Real ID program. Under the program, a new form of approved identification will be required for anyone taking a commercial airplane flight anywhere in the country. It will also be necessary for anyone entering a federal building or crossing a national border. Anchorage Democrat Bill Wielechowski sponsored the bill. He sees the biggest problem with the federal program is the establishment of a method of sharing personal identification.Dave Donaldson, APRN - Juneau