“Congress created Real ID, and they can do away with Real ID,” said Jim Harper, director of information policy studies at the Cato Institute and the author of a book on identification laws and technology. “Not a single state is going to be in compliance with the law by May, and the program has been failing from the start.”

Citing the law’s unfunded costs and big-government approach, Alexander told Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff at a March 4 subcommittee meeting about his plans for the amendment.

Like many critics, one of Alexander’s biggest concerns is cost. He points out that while some estimates of the implementation of Real ID come to $4 billion, federal officials have appropriated only $60 million and distributed only $6 million.

At least 19 states have passed measures stating their opposition.

“If you pass a bill without hearings, you’re going to miss stuff. And the authors of Real ID missed a lot,” Harper, of the Cato Institute said.

Alexander plans to file an amendment to the fiscal 2009 homeland
security appropriations bill that would halt the program until the
government finds a way to reimburse states for its cost.

It appears Alaexander and "most Dems" resist the Bill solely because of the cost to States. Alexander is a Progressive. I doubt his concerns are anything other than economic. The issue is much more troubling.

The issue is much more troubling.

The list of states that are passing legislation in opposition
to the "law" is about 20 and growing. I doubt if California would be able to implement it for a number reasons, chiefly the cost.
It would appear that the law was doomed from the beginning,
so it deserves a decent burial.