Miller sues government over new Social Security numbers

LANSING, Mich. (AP) - Secretary of State Candice Miller filed a lawsuit yesterday against the U.S. government over its requirement that Michigan residents give Social Security numbers to get or renew their driver's licenses.

States are required under the federal Welfare Reform Act approved by Congress in 1997 to collect Social Security numbers from licensed drivers to help track deadbeat parents.

Miller said the requirement, which took effect in October, violates the privacy of Michigan's 6.9 million licensed drivers.

"I will not sit idly by while residents' privacy is invaded by an intrusive, ineffective and unfunded mandate," Miller said.

Michigan is the only state not complying with the requirement that took effect in October, said Pam Carter of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The state could lose about $900 million annually in federal money if it fails to comply with the requirement. But Miller said yesterday that the lawsuit will not hurt the state's federal money.

"There is no imminent danger of jeopardizing funds to the state," Miller said about the lawsuit. "I may be reckless, but I'm not crazy. I am not going to put $1 billion at risk."

While the state Family Independence Agency is not taking a position on the federal lawsuit, agency spokeswoman Maureen Sorbet says Social Security numbers are useful tools in collecting overdue child support payments from deadbeat parents.

The Michigan Department of State's lawsuit against the U.S. Health and Human Services Department comes after the agency rejected requests from the FIA and Miller to be exempt from the Social Security requirement.

Currently in the state, only commercial drivers are required to give their Social Security numbers when applying for a Michigan license.

Michigan already has a database system more efficient and effective than anoter that would use Social Security numbers, the lawsuit says.

"There isn't anybody who would come forward with a Social Security number who we don't already have in a database," Miller said.