As odd as it sounds—considering his giddiness of putting Voter ID laws into effect—Gov. Tom Corbett signed a bill on Wednesday prohibiting the commonwealth from participating in the Real ID Act.

In an effort to supposedly fight terrorism, the Real ID Act sets “national standards for driver’s licenses and other IDs used for boarding commercial flights and entering federal buildings,” according to the Associated Press—and states have a deadline of January 15, 2013 to comply.

The opposition is the result of the Pennsylvania Legislature’s demands. Specifically, a bill introduced by Senator Mike Folmer exempting Pennsylvania from compliance with the federal law. Folmer said the Real ID Act “threatens privacy rights by opening the door to the empowerment of the Department of Homeland Security to collect biometric data – including fingerprints and eye scans – as well as placing Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chips in every American’s driver’s license.”

The law was conspicuously passed in Washington in 2005, with its House version attached to an Iraq War/Tsunami spending bill. The Senate passed the bill, as well, but never discussed it publicly. Some have stated through Internet conspiracy videos and blogs that Real ID is a step toward one-world government.

In official opposition, Pennsylvania joins states like Montana, Oklahoma, Maine, Virginia, Washington, Alaska, and Arizona in blocking the measure—and is now the most populous state in opposition to Real ID.

Gov. Tom Corbett has the backing of the ACLU of Pennsylvania, who call the requirement expensive, invasive and “real pointless.” They note, “REAL ID is supposed to stop terrorism, but knowing a terrorist identity deter fatal attack and none of the information required by Real ID can predict terrorism or criminal intent. Additionally, determined terrorists would easily be able to obtain fraudulent ID, either counterfeit or real documents bought from corrupt officials.”