Ron Paul is the only presidential candidate with a long-standing record of strong opposition to Real ID - putting him on the side of the people of Montana, who overwhelming oppose the Real ID Act.

Last Friday, Governor Schweitzer sent a letter to 17 of the Nation's governors seeking their support in rejecting Real ID. In rare unanimity, the Montana Legislature passed HB 287 rejecting the Real ID federal mandate by votes of 100-0 in the House and 50-0 in the Senate. The law was signed by Governor Schweitzer on April 17, 2007.

Real ID watchdog group The Visible Vote 08 has praised Congressman Paul for his opposition to the Real ID Act:

“[T]he strongest opponent of the Act among presidential candidates is Ron Paul, who has taken every opportunity to warn of the creation of a national ID card and the threat to individual privacy facing Americans as a result of enactment of Real ID… Ron Paul is the only presidential candidate who has consistently raised the issue of the Real ID Act in presidential debates this year.”

Visible Vote notes that Republican candidates John McCain, Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani all support the Real ID Act.

Dr. Paul also joins Montana in opposing the loss of civil liberties under the so-called Patriot Act. In 2005, the Montana Legislature passed Senate Joint Resolution 19 by a vote in the Senate of 40-10, and by a vote in the House of 87-12. Congressman Paul has sponsored a bill in Congress to overturn the Patriot Act.