Some Texans have varied ideas about what Real ID is and should be. What Real ID will never be is a way to shore up identity security and hamper illegal immigration. No matter how much Merritt and Wayne Christiansen yell it from the top of their lungs - it's all air and no earth. While locals are taking more time to extract the truth from the lies, it is a duty to inform all who supported the anti-Real ID efforts in the past that Tommy Merritt intends to politically marry voter ID to Real ID so Voter ID has another lifetime next legislature. It's a foolhardy prospect because even federal administrators of Real ID, namely DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano, have no intentions of enforcing Real ID regulations due to 36 states nullifying the results. Civil liberty advocates are now more concerned about the fusion center intelligence hubs getting development monies from DHS appropriations bills.

Why should Texas pay a dime, much less $34 million, when there is no impetus or consequence to do anything from a federal mandate? Merritt, and others from TCCP's cadres, insist that it's a way to control immigration. Coyotes simply find other ways of defrauding the system using the black market for hacks. Texans continue to compete with black market labor. Real ID doesn't stop employers from preferring under the table labor and is a hidden reason why the "immigration cause" contributed to its nullification.

I would say that Voter ID and Real ID were successfully decoupled, in concept, last session due to significant holes in the Carter Baker Commission reports. Texans may pursue a voter ID if they like [GOOD LUCK!] - but Real ID may not be on the federal books to deliver. 2 bills to repeal and dispose of Real ID Act have been in the works for close to 7 months. The more recent of the two was directly derived from Rep. Carl Isett's resolution, HCR 180 (R-Lubbock).

If 'R's want voter ID, they can try again next session. However, Real ID probably won't be around to "save" anyone for very much longer.