Two bills sailing through the Legislature, one sponsored by a Republican and the other by a Democrat, would bar the state from going along with the federal Real ID Act - a 2005 law requiring all the states to issue a driver's license or state ID card in a uniform format.

It's hardly a surprise that the bills are doing well (they each were passed 100-0 in the House), because the Real ID Act is one big fat terrible idea.

For one thing, the whole effort is fatally flawed. Because the Department of Homeland Security recognizes that many Americans don't have the documents needed to obtain the new IDs, there are lots of loopholes allowing people - including terrorists - to get them without many of the state's verification and documentation requirements.

For another, the system would throw privacy out the window. The use of common machine-reading technology and states' maintenance of databases that can be shared across the country practically guarantee that identities will be stolen and sold.

Part of the reason so many legislators are rejecting the Real ID plan is that they object to the federal government taking over state departments of motor vehicles. But the cost is a bit of a bother, as well. The Department of Homeland Security estimates the cost to the states will range from $10.7 to $14.6 billion, not counting the additional $7.8 billion to be paid by individuals.

Maine already has passed legislation rejecting the plan, and eight other states, including Montana, have had rejections passed in one legislative house. Similar bills have been introduced in 14 more states, with additional states expected to join in.

In all, this a fascinating revolt. And it's certainly a justified one.