Internal Passport - A Relic of the U.S.S.R.

"It sounds crazy, but next year, millions of Americans might have to start using passports to fly -- on domestic flights.

A decade ago, the U.S. government issued stricter standards for state-issued IDs, including drivers licenses. But four states have refused to comply: Louisiana, Minnesota, New Hampshire and New York.

The deadline for upgrading is coming up in 2016. If those four states don't upgrade their ID systems by the deadline, the TSA will demand that residents of those four states use passports rather than drivers licenses to board flights next year. About 9.5 million drivers licenses have been issued in those states, according to government licensing records."

You may not think that is of any concern.  However, tie that in with the following:  "A little-noticed provision in the highway funding bill Congress passed this week threatens a right most Americans take for granted: the right to travel abroad. The provision in question gives the Internal Revenue Service the authority to revoke the passport of anyone the IRS claims owes more than $50,000 in back taxes."  "...the provision does not provide taxpayers an opportunity to challenge a finding that they owe back taxes in federal court before their passport is revoked." 

Read about it here.

HT: http://overlawyered.com/2015/12/but-you-cant-check-out/