Is Real ID dead?

Louisiana is the latest state to pass anti-Real ID legislation, adding support to the idea that the law is a dead letter. Jim Harper applauds. North Carolina's House has approved similar legislation. The article on that bill mentions some of the assaults on Americans which Real ID will implement, including denial of the right to legal representation:

For example, if the federal government does not recognize North Carolina identification cards as valid, residents employed at the Butner Federal Correctional Complex won't be able to enter their work facilities and attorneys won't be able to enter federal courthouses, [Rep.] Boylan said.

Still, the assumption that the government will just roll over and give up on Real ID is premature. The nearly-overnight reversal of the Washington left on amnesty for telecom snoops serves as a reminder of how little we can trust the Democrats and their media allies. Pro-national ID organizations like the Heritage Foundation (which has resorted to blatant lies) aren't even close to giving up.

Don't expect any help from the Supreme Court. It recently refused to consider a challenge to the Real ID provisions which allow Homeland Security to ignore any law it finds inconvenient, even though they're a plain violation of the equal protection clause.

Is Real ID dead? We'll see. Don't count the feds out until it's over.