Feds insert fingerprint registry in housing bill

2008 May 24

From Openmarket.org:

[E]arlier this week, a measure creating a federal fingerprint registry totally unrelated to national security passed a U.S. Senate committee almost without notice. The legislation would require thousands of individuals working even tangentially in the mortgage and real estate industries — and not suspected of anything — to send their prints to the feds. The database and fingerprint mandates were tucked into housing and foreclosure assistance bills that on Tuesday passed the Senate Banking Committee by a vote of 19-2.

The measure the committee passed states that “an indvidual may not engage in the business of a loan originator without first … obtaining a unique identifier.” To obtain this “identifier,” an individual is requiredto [sic] “furnish” to the newly created Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry “information concerning the applicant’s identity, including fingerprints for submission” to the FBI and other government agencies.

I would love for someone to explain to me why, in a country that purports to be a bastion of freedom, someone who is willing to lend his money to another must provide the federal government with a fingerprint.

10 Responses leave one →
  1. walt moffett on May 24, 2008 at 6:21 pm permalink

    Getting ready for the day when schools will teach how to thumbprint papers instead of the use of cursive? More time can then be spent on important things like myspace web page design classes.

  2. redeye on May 25, 2008 at 4:49 am permalink

    You can thank your GOP buddies for this one Brain. They waive their rights while waving their flags.

  3. Brian on May 26, 2008 at 6:35 am permalink

    I haven’t seen a voting manifest for the committee, but there are 21 members: 11 Democrats and 10 republicans. Since the committee approved the bill 19-2 by my math at least nine Democrats voted in favor of it – blowing your specific allegation out of the water. I would argue that both parties are equally eager to gain more control over individuals.

  4. redeye on May 26, 2008 at 7:30 am permalink

    Those ( Democrats you mention are DINO’s.

  5. redeye on May 26, 2008 at 7:30 am permalink

    Those 9 Democrats you mention are DINO’s, you know Democrats in Name Only.

  6. Brian on May 26, 2008 at 7:44 am permalink

    You don’t even know which Dems supported the bill!

  7. redeye on May 27, 2008 at 1:30 am permalink

    What difference does it make which Democrats supported the bill? More Republicans supported the bill than Democrats. Those 9 Democrats are sell outs.

  8. Matt, Alabama on May 27, 2008 at 7:03 am permalink

    redeye, it is clear that both parties suck. Why are you stuck in the left/right argument when we can all fight for what is right?

  9. redeye on May 28, 2008 at 3:15 am permalink

    I don’t believe both parties suck Matt.

  10. Matt on May 28, 2008 at 5:01 am permalink

    Then you are blind.

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