County board hears suggested resolution to oppose federal Real I.D. Act
A proposed resolution opposing the federal Real I.D. Act of 2005 could be considered by the Josephine County Board of Commissioners.
Selma resident Jim Rafferty addressed the board and presented a resolution for deliberation during its meeting Wednesday, Aug. 8 in Anne Basker Auditorium in Grants Pass.
Besides asking that the county board adopt a resolution, Rafferty requested that it “petition the Oregon Senate to reject Oregon House Bill 2827, while joining other states in drafting legislation opposing implementation of said law.”
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SB 2827 would prohibit the state from expending funds to comply with the act unless certain requirements were met. It also directs ODOT to analyze the cost of complying with the act. The report would be made available to the public.
Commissioner Dwight Ellis indicated his disfavor with the Real I.D. Act, saying that he tends to agree with Fourth District Rep. Dennis Richardson (R-Central Point. He has stated his strong opposition to the act, citing invasion of privacy and a “Big Brother” type of scenario.
Ellis noted that he sees it as an infringement of personal liberty. He said that it would cost Oregon $65 million to implement.
Commission Chairman Jim Raffenburg said, “This (act) is definitely a step in the wrong direction by our government.” He is concerned about its implementation in January 2008. He added that he too agrees with Richardson.
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Commission Vice Chairman Dave Toler stated, “This (act) seems to be a consequence of 9-11. It is an emotional issue.”
In Rafferty’s presentation, for which Raffenburg granted a couple of minutes longer than the five minutes normally allowed for “Requests From Citizens,” Rafferty said that 15 states have passed legislation opposing the I.D. Act. Others are considering the same action, he said.
Anti-legislation has been passed, he said, by Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Maine, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Dakota, South Carolina and Washington state.
His proposed resolution states, in part, that the act “is an intrusion into the lives of American citizens that is both unconstitutional and unwarranted, based generally on Article X of the Bill of Rights and specifically on the rulings of the U.S. Supreme Court establishing the right to privacy.”
In another matter, the county board OK’d 3-0 the transfer of portions of Hanby Lane from county ownership to city of Cave Junction ownership. The lane lies between N. Old Stage Road and Hwy. 199.
The approval resolves jurisdiction between the county and city “over the responsibility for improvement, construction, repair and maintenance of portions of Hanby Lane.” Henceforth, the city will be responsible for those matters, including levying and collecting assessments.
The board also heard from Grants Pass resident Lyle Woodcock. He told commissioners that the national debt is out of control, and asked what they could do about it “to help us out.”
Raffenburg and his fellow commissioners said that they are doing what they can at their level to set an example. The chairman explained that the county had more than 700 employees two and a half years ago, but that it now has 400. Additionally, benefits have been altered, all aimed at saving money.
“And we’re always looking at ways to do things differently and more efficiently,” he said, “while still providing service to citizens.
“We’re always looking for improvements,” he added.
As one way of saving money, the board voted 3-0 to print the annual foreclosure list only in the Grants Pass Daily Courier. “It’s a matter of funding constraints,” explained Toler.
