The Washington Post’s Lyndsey Layton reports that 17 state legislatures have rejected the Department of Homeland Security’s Real ID program, a card that would replace state driver’s licenses as the standard form of identification. The battle between the states and DHS was waged on Capitol Hill yesterday as DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and others accused DHS of bullying states and setting up an inefficient program that could cost the taxpayers billions.

DHS responded that it would keep granting states extensions until June 2009 so they would be able to comply. Which raises a question: When, if ever, will this post 9/11 program be a reality and not just a source of controversy?  Read Layton here.  MB

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