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Fosters: Sens. Collins, Sununu are strong advocates

Article Date: Thursday, January 17, 2008

While much of the nation is focused on presidential primary politics, the work of some members of the Maine and New Hampshire congressional delegations should not go unnoticed.

Of special note last week was the successful effort led by Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, to delay implementation of onerous border-crossing requirements.

Collins, with the help of delegations from other border states, was instrumental in delaying the next phase of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative until June 2009. Meanwhile Sen. John Sununu, R-N.H., continued across-the-aisle efforts to challenge costly and invasive rules also generated under the REAL ID Act.

Effective Jan. 31 last year, air travelers were required to have passports to return to the U.S. after flying to Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean. Previously, only a driver's license was needed. On Jan. 31 of this year, passports were also to be required to cross into those areas by land or sea.

Now, thanks to the effort led by Collins, travelers will only need a driver's license and birth certificate come Jan. 31.

The delay, said Collins, was needed to give the government more time to perfect its border-crossing technology. Collins' goal is to give the government more time to provide a less costly alternative, while providing the necessary level of national security.

Collins is supporting a passport card which will cut at least in half the cost now associated with securing a passport, a move seen essential to maintaining the travel and tourism economy so critical to Maine and New Hampshire.

The delay in implementing crossing rules is also aimed at giving privacy advocates such as Collins and Sununu more time to make their case.

Last week, Sununu blasted regulations promulgated to implement REAL ID and require a national ID card for border crossings.

"Although I am still reviewing the regulations," said Sununu, "the fact remains that the REAL ID program presents serious privacy concerns and is an unfunded, unnecessary, and intrusive mandate on the states. REAL ID should be repealed and replaced with a process that allows New Hampshire and all states the flexibility to produce tamper-resistant licenses and incorporate measures to protect civil liberties in a manner that does not undermine national security."

Sununu also took to task what he sees as the act's nearly $4 billion unfunded mandate.

Sununu went on to stress the need for "reasonable and effective solutions to strengthen the security of identification cards and protect the personal privacy and civil liberties of all Americans while respecting the rights of the states."

Much hinges of the advocacy of Collins and Sununu.

The success of last year's tourist season in both Maine and New Hampshire is largely attributed to the influx of Canadian tourists. Some areas of the Northeast reported activity not rivaled since the 1980s.

On a year-round basis, the ease with which commuters can cross back and forth between Canada and the northern reaches of both states is truly a matter of survival.

Also underscoring the financial need for changes to REAL ID are predictions of a sluggish economy in the coming months. If true, both states will have even more need of dollars spent by foreign visitors. At the same time, however, the need for national security must be respected, something both Collins and Sununu understand.

There is no question that changes need to be made in Washington — as those on the presidential campaign trail argue — and that some members of Congress need to better represent the voters back home.