Drivers license costs going up due to terra. What does one have

[babylonsister]

to do with the other?

DUer kurth posted this in GD, but thought you all might want to see what's being done to us lately.

Austin American-Statesman
July 20, 2006

Driver license costs could go up
Reason: New federal anti-terrorism law
By Mike Ward, AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF

Texans could soon get a jolt when they apply for a driver's license. State Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio, was quoted Wednesday as saying Department of Public Safety officials alerted her that the cost of a license could jump from $24 for six years to a whopping $100 or more.

Reason: A new federal anti-terrorism law requiring all states' driver's licenses to be the same and much more sophisticated. Read that as more costly.

"We're looking at a huge, unfunded mandate," she told the San Antonio Express-News. A Homeland Security representative in Washington said Wednesday that the change in federal law stemmed from the report of the Sept. 11 commission, which studied the terrorist attacks. Citing the fact that all but one of the Sept. 11 hijackers had obtained driver's licenses or other state identity cards, the commission recommended standardizing all state licenses and improving verification of applicants' backgrounds...

Driver's license costs
The price of a driver's license in Texas since the first one was issued in 1935:
1935: 25 cents a year
1942: $3 for two years
1968: $6 for four years, $3 for two years
1974: $7 for four years
1984: $10 for four years
1985: $16 for four years
1998: $24 for six years, $4 per year
Source: Texas Department of Public Safety

http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/loca...

[WestHoustonDem]

1. That goes hand in hand with the effort to require a TDL to vote n/t

[sonias]

3. That's a very good point WHD

I hadn't thought about that aspect of it. Disguised poll tax.

It's obvious that the miserable failure republicans who can't manage their finances are just trying to find an excuse to transfer more wealth to the richest Americans. They can't find a way to finance this requirement because of the deficits the war is creating and the tax cuts for the rich, so they pass along an unfunded mandate to the states. They stick it to the average working American once again.

Sonia

[Melissa G]

2. This is a great campaign issue! Republicans cut taxes for

the rich and raise fees and tuition for the middle class! Across the board we have seen big jumps in fees lately and tuition at public universities is up through the roof!

This is an good area for campaign research!

[derby378]

4. Yet another reason to throw the Repukes out in November

And get their Democratic replacements to repeal this stupid law!!

[BrightKnight]

5. A TX DL will cost more than a passport?

The last time I had a passport issued I paid about $89 including a substantial rush fee.

Smells like a neocon stealth tax to me.