Committee OKs Maine license bill

AUGUSTA – Gov. John Baldacci’s bill to make Maine driver’s licenses more secure had its first legislative go-around Friday, as the Transportation Committee voted 6-4 in favor of the amended measure with three committee members absent.

“This guarantees a vigorous floor debate” when the bill reaches the House and Senate next week, said the committee co-chairman, Sen. Dennis Damon, D-Trenton.

The bill, which was hastily reworked before the committee vote, seeks several changes in Maine licensing policy, including a requirement that applicants show they are legally in the United States. It would increase six-year license fees from $30 to $45, with the increases covering the costs of implementation.

The bill was submitted last week by the governor under pressure from the Department of Homeland Security, which is pushing states to tighten up licensing standards under the 2005 Real ID Act.

The government demanded that Maine revise its policy that currently allows undocumented aliens to get licenses. Baldacci’s bill also seeks to make licenses expire at the same time as visas and ensure that an applicant doesn’t get more than one license or state ID.

Supporters say the changes are needed so Mainers won’t be subjected to extra screening at airports and federal facilities as of May 11 if the state does nothing. The Baldacci administration says the proposed changes are reasonable and in Mainers’ best interests. But some committee members expressed deep concern over provisions such as one requiring applicants to have their photos taken at the time they apply. Photos would be archived digitally by the state.

In response to a member’s question, Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap said none of the other half-dozen or so states without “lawful presence” requirements were told to do what Maine is being told to do.

Damon asked Baldacci legal counsel Michael Mahoney why Maine was being treated differently.

“I think a big part, senator … is that our licenses are not up to par [with] 43 or 44 other states in the country as far as requiring lawful presence,” Mahoney said.

Like other critics, Damon said he was concerned about the legislation’s potential effect on constitutional protections.

“I don’t feel as though our civil liberties need to be treaded on in this radical way,” the senator said after the vote.

Another opponent, Rep. Charles Ken Theriault, D-Madawaska, believes the government “rolled over us.”

Meanwhile, the House overwhelmingly passed a separate bill that also deals with driver’s licenses but is far less-sweeping.

Representatives voted 126-1 in favor of a measure requiring Maine driver’s license or state ID applicants to show documentation that they live in Maine. The bill is aimed at cracking down on people who come to Maine just to get a state photo identification.

Applicants could show a tax return, W-2 form, paycheck stub, utility bill, contract or document issued by a governmental entity to show their residency.

Lawmakers turned down an amendment that would have added a lawful presence provision to the bill. The Baldacci bill seeks to deal with the lawful presence of applicants.