Gov. Dayton Calls For Real ID Cards In Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Gov. Mark Dayton renewed his call Wednesday for the state to adopt new, high-security driver's licenses.

The Department of Homeland Security denied Minnesota's request to delay Real ID in the state on Tuesday.

The federal government is requiring all states to create the new licenses, or risk not being able to board domestic airline flights.

The feds gave the states almost 10 years after 9/11 to make driver's licenses more counterfeit proof and secure.

But Minnesota resisted those efforts, and state residents could someday be barred from boarding planes using a Minnesota driver's license.

Dayton says he expects the Department of Homeland Security to announce before the end of this year a 120-day deadline for Minnesota to comply.

"The issue here is really about what is necessary to be done to bring Minnesota into necessary compliance that citizens of our state can get on airplanes and enter federal buildings," Dayton said.

Minnesota is one of only four states -- including Louisiana, New York and New Mexico -- without Real ID, because some lawmakers say it is a government invasion of privacy.

Minnesota's law even forbids top state officials from talking about it to Homeland Security.

"It's a pretty absurd feature of the law that the Commissioner of Public Safety is even gagged from having conversations with lawmakers and others in Washington about what's necessary to carry out a federal law," Dayton said.

Real ID will not go into effect until April 1 of next year at the earliest, but travelers can still use federally-issued passports as alternate identification.

But Dayton says a Real ID special session in January is a good idea.

Minnesota House Republican Speaker Kurt Daudt has been reluctant to agree to a special session before the 2016 regular session begins March 1.

Daudt issued this written statement:

"Minnesotans can confidently travel this holiday season without a Real ID requirement to board an airplane. The federal government has assured us they will provide at least 120 days' notice to prepare for the next phase of Real ID and we will continue to work with the governor to achieve compliance."

In addition to Real ID, Gov. Dayton says he would like any special session to include unemployment benefits for Iron Range steelworkers, and development programs for inner-city minorities.