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Thursday, August 06, 2009

Ind. Gov't. - "Making Hoosier women jump through hoops to drive, vote is unfair"

That is the headline to a letter today from Ruth Beeler of Churubusco, published iin the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette. I love the letter and have highlighted several portions:

Thank you to Debra Jenkins for her letter, “ID rule discriminates against women” (July 30), for stepping up and voicing her indignation at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles for its new ID rule. Women in Indiana need to check all of the requirements because women are the targets who will require the multiple documents.

BMV Commissioner Andy Miller and Gov. Mitch Daniels should quit insulting our intelligence by stating that this will help prevent another 9/11 or give extra protection against identity theft. Anyone with half a brain knows that 17 of the 19 al-Qaida hijackers used their real names. As to identity theft, more than 70 percent of the theft is done online.

I, like many other women in this state, have been married more than once. One marriage was terminated in another state. I do not have the paperwork, so now I must deal with a governmental bureaucracy to get a copy sent to me, and this will cost time and money to acquire. Another marriage requires a trip to downtown Fort Wayne to get the necessary documents. I wonder how much that will cost me.

My husband has all the utilities and such in his name. All credit card payments are done online, and my paycheck is directly deposited so I have no pay stub or statement. And did everyone know that you cannot have a post office box for your address? We live in a rural area and pick up our mail at the post office. It seems as if the BMV is now dictating how I receive my mail.

This ID rule is a slap in the face to Indiana women by requiring us to jump through multiple hoops. I am older than 60 years of age. The federal government, my family, friends and employer all know who I am and where to find me. Therefore, I must decide about whether I want to continue to be an Indiana resident or relocate to a state where women can drive and vote without being subjected to this type of standard.

For background, start with this ILB entry from July 19th.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on August 6, 2009 01:53 PM
Posted to Indiana Government