Here is an idea that would, I think, kill three birds with one stone. The immigration issue, the (so-called) voting fraud issue and national security from terrorists. Bare with me.
a. Almost immediately after the Supreme Court gutted the Voting Rights Act of 1965 by striking down the sole method of enforcing the intent of the law, some states began to move to make it harder for their citizens to vote.
b. The Real ID Act of 2005, which forces states to comply with federal standards for state-issued driver licenses and non-driver identification cards is languishing and, in fact, half of the states have passed, or are actively working on legislation to try and block the federal law from being enacted.
c. Even though there was a return to some bipartisanship in the Senate to pass a comprehensive immigration bill, the House of Representatives, mired in ideological stupidity, will almost certainly kill it.
So here is my proposal. Repeal and replace the Real ID Act, but keep the data requirements in it, to create a federal ID card law for every natural and naturalized U.S. citizen. The IDs would be issued and administered by the Department of Homeland Security. They would replace passports, green cards and would serve as valid voter identification in any state or national election. Those that cannot afford the cost of obtaining a card will be provided one with a subsidy from the federal government. The fed ID card would not replace state driver licences but would eliminate the need for non-driver identification cards issued by the states.
What do you think? Where am I going wrong?