Spitzer License Policy Under Increased Heavy Fire

ALBANY — Gov. Eliot L. Spitzer’s new policy that permits illegal immigrants to obtain New York State driver’s licenses is “an absurd” decision that will provide a new gateway for terrorists, a member of the federal commission that investigated the 2001 World Trade Center attacks warns.

“It’s a perfect formula for al-Qaida. They won’t be able to resist it. They will be able to come to New York,” said John Lehman, a former secretary of the Navy who served on the 9/11 Commission that warned of the nation’s vulnerabilities to terrorist strikes.

Lehman joins a growing number of critics of the new Spitzer policy, including two mayors involved in the recovery of the 9/11 attacks — Rudy Giuliani and Michael R. Bloomberg — and an assortment of law enforcement officials, Republicans and Democrats.

In an interview Saturday with The Buffalo News, Lehman said the state is undermining the many efforts made to improve security in New York City since 2001.

“It is not logical,” he said of the Spitzer policy, adding: “As we know, New York is target number one.”

Spitzer’s plan “is going to make life easier for illegals,” especially terrorists, counterfeiters and others who will have easy access to a valuable piece of identification, Lehman said.

Lehman also said the policy will put New York at odds with a looming federal identification program recommended by his commission, which noted how valuable identification cards are for terrorists in moving cash and traveling.

“It’s going to become a magnet to lawbreakers because the surrounding states will adhere to the federal standards,” he said. “So, New York becomes a sanctuary for al-Qaida and all sorts of other people on the lam.”

When he announced his new policy, Spitzer said it would make roads safer, get more drivers insured, provide a better accounting of people living in the state and bolster the state’s security in a post-September 11 world.

But the new policy, set to take effect in December, also includes components that could dissuade undocumented immigrants from rushing to the program. For instance, federal immigration officials could subpoena the state’s license records to track down illegal aliens, state officials concede.

While the Spitzer administration touts an expected $120 million drop in insurance costs because more people will be covered by policies, the savings for legal residents will add up to about $15 annually on a $1,000 policy.

Moreover, because they lack Social Security numbers used in running credit checks, illegal aliens likely would be dissuaded from buying insurance because they would end up paying expensive premiums, insurance company executives said. Though more drivers would be insured under the Spitzer policy, it remains uncertain what the impact will be on reducing accidents, traffic safety experts say.

And in a state especially sensitive to terrorist attacks, the new policy is raising the eyebrows of federal agents who patrol the borders, district attorneys and other law enforcement officials.

While most illegal aliens end up leading productive lives, law enforcement officials say they worry the policy could make it easier for terrorists to get their hands on a valuable form of identification that is used to open bank accounts, board airplanes and gain access to some public buildings.

“We are a border county,” Erie County District Attorney Frank Clark said. “My first concern is: Are we at conflict with any federal statutes and are we somehow lessening the trust and confidence people have in the New York driver’s license, which, as we all know, when anybody asks you for ID, they ask for a driver’s license?”

Border and immigration officials from northern New York to Buffalo have expressed concerns about the new policy, said Derek Champagne, the Franklin County district attorney.

Police along the borders are able to search vehicles if they stop someone without a license, Champagne said, and that has led to major drug busts and breaking up illegal-alien smuggling rings.

“I don’t think any of us want to be in a situation where something horrific happens and they were able to gain access because of one of these licenses,” he said.

Officially, federal border and homeland security agencies are withholding judgment, for now.

The policy, though, is raising complaints among Border Patrol agents working on the front lines.

“We have strong feelings against any proposal that will provide illegal immigrants with enticements to enter a state and hide in plain sight,” said T.J. Bonner, president of the National Border Patrol Council, the union that represents about 10,000 Border Patrol agents. “There’s no doubt this would hamper homeland security.”

Bonner predicted the policy would make New York State a sanctuary for undocumented aliens. In fact, New York Motor Vehicles Commissioner David Swarts last week said his agency is gearing up for an expected rush of applications by illegal immigrants. The agency, for instance, is hiring 20 additional driving-test workers.

“If you reward this kind of behavior, you can expect to see it repeated over and over again,” Bonner said.

He noted that, of the 19 hijackers on Sept. 11 2001, all but one had a driver’s license that gave them a form of ID to use as they planned their plot. Similarly, terrorists could get a New York driver’s license and use it to have “disastrous effects in other parts of the country,” he said.

The Spitzer administration says critics are ignoring that the state will bolster its anti-fraud efforts at DMV offices with new technologies to check identifications that they insist will make the New York license the nation’s most secure.

But the administration would not say if it ran the new policy in advance past federal homeland security officials.

“We were caught flat-footed by all this, to be honest,” Clark said. He said the policy “was thrust on us without any dialogue, and that was disconcerting to everybody.”

Spitzer said critics ignore the reality that illegal immigrants are here — up to one million in New York — and are already driving. His policy envisions getting those people to take written and road tests to get licensed and then insured if they own a car. That, he says, will improve traffic safety.

But safety experts said they have no idea if the governor’s plan will actually cut the number of accidents.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, highly respected in the industry, has no position on the Spitzer policy, said spokesman Russ Rader, “because there’s no research to base an opinion on.”

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a federal agency; the American Automobile Association; and the Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, all declined to comment about the effectiveness of the new policy for New York.

The Spitzer administration also says the plan will help all drivers by lowering insurance premiums. The more insured drivers, the fewer accidents involving drivers with no coverage. That cuts costs, said David Neustadt, an insurance department spokesman.

At Progressive Insurance, spokeswoman Leah Knapp said the only condition in New York for insurance eligibility is a driver’s license.

“The driver produces the license, we provide the quote. We will ask for a Social Security number when we provide a quote so that we can give the most accurate rate possible, but we will quote and provide coverage without it. However, in those cases, the consumer might not get the absolute best rate we have to offer,” she said.

Spitzer’s plan “is going to make life easier for illegals,” especially terrorists, counterfeiters and others who will have easy access to a valuable piece of identification, Lehman said.

No wonder Pennsylvania and NJ are so silent, they’re probably hoping all their illegals come to NY.

spitzer.

Yet ANOTHER, in a line of MANY, northeastern-corridor, big-city, gun-grabbing, illegal-loving, ambulance-chasing, political-opportunist SCUMBAG LIBERALS.

Do we want someone like him as the REPUBLICAN candidate opposing the demonRATS for President of the United States?

That's EXACTLY what we'll get if the left-wing media, the demonRATS, and a gaggle of uninformed, misinformed, or just basically - MINDLESS RINO-rudy-rooters (some of them on FR) get their way.

Just say NO to ALL LIBERALS, and MOST ESPECIALLY, ALL LIBERALS in Republican "clothing".

When he announced his new policy, Spitzer said it would make roads safer

I challenge Spitzer to give us a reasonable, proved explanation of how having a driver's license makes the roads safer.

Sure, they gotta take a test, etc. And I'm sure the entire process will be available in Spanish for the illegal scumball aliens who have been here for 10 years and STILL can't handle English.

However, do you think they, who are already here illegally, will quit driving if they can't pass the test? Ha ha.

POLITICAL NOTEBOOK: Slaughter mum on driver’s licenses change

The fight over issuing driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants isn’t one Rep. Louise Slaughter in which seems ready to get involved.

The Democrat said last week that she’ll leave the issue — being pressed by fellow Democrat Gov. Eliot Spitzer — up to the state.

Sure you will honey, that makes things nice and easy for you. Don't want to have to criticize one of your crooked own do you? Time to give this liberal demoRAT who would sell out the citizens of this state and country a call:

Buffalo Office
465 Main Street
Suite 105
Buffalo, NY 14203
(716) 853-5813 [phone]
(716) 853-6347 [fax]

Cuckoo politicans like Spitler and Giuliani dance to the same piper. They are tearing down the US political establishment to advance themeselves.

Spilter and Giuliani thumb their noses at US laws. Fearful Americans are ignored. The rigid mind-set of these ruthless politicians is furthering their own crass political ambitions.

Spitler and Giuliani are engaged in a very dirty political game played by remorseless people.

These individuals advance themselves by destroying American laws and institutions. They are imposing irrational thinking on America and Americans.

=============================================

2008 wannabe Giuliani is ruthless----kicking conservatives to the curb, engaged in the religious cleansing of the Repub Party.

Onetime NYC Mayor Giuliani made NYC the paradigm sanctuary city for illegals, even using US courts to suckup to latino voting blocs.

LET US NOT FORGET: Rudy Giuliani showed where his priorities lie----and it's not with Americans: On May 1, 2007 Giuliani appeared at the Latino Coalition convention in the ballroom of the Four Seasons Hotel in Washington, DC---the only 2008 candidate from any party to appear.

==============================================

Ruthless, self-motivated politicians like Spitler and Giuliani are saturating the US political system with irrational, foreign thinking (the type usually found in Mideast hellholes).

“While the Spitzer administration touts an expected $120 million drop in insurance costs because more people will be covered by policies, the savings for legal residents will add up to about $15 annually on a $1,000 policy.”
___________________________________________________________

When I left NY in 02, minimum mandated liability auto insurance was (I believe) $10,000-20,000. That would translate to a saving of $150. I carried $100,000-300,000 which would have meant a $1500 savings.

I call BS!!!!!

Secret files? Did the staffers once work at the Clinton whitehouse? They had the same need to know about people they disliked. FBI files showed up and were used. It looks like a Democrat way of life?

Spitzer is pushing the illegal driver's license issue for one reason. Votes for the 2008 presidential. They need valid ID's.

That is part of the Democratic strategy to achieve a permanent majority: Motor Votor first [automatically register to vote with a driver license], then make sure all illegals can get licenses [ergo, they can vote]. 9/11 put a bit of a crimp in this plan (not much thought), but 6 years later its full speed ahead again. It floors me that such a policy is taking root in NY of all places. Spitzer seems to be one arrogant SOB.

I work for NYS, so this A-hole Gov is my boss. I don’t work for motor vehicle, but I know several clerks who do. And they’re not happy about this at all. A few of them have told me that if they suspect an illegal getting a license, they will process the paper work, then “quietly” turn the info over to the Feds(INS). 13 County clerks have said they will ignore the Gov’s directive, and refuse to process the paperwork, some will contact the the Fed too. This could be stopped by legislative action, but in NYS, that’s like like waiting for a liberal to root for America.
Its good to know that there are citizens willing to rebel against Hitzler, and try and still protect us. This topic is BIG news in NY, and I heard a phone call the other day on a radio station from a guy who say he’s got a group starting that will stand outside local DMV offices with INS T-shirts & jackets to scare the illegals from going into the DMV. I don’t know how organized this dude is, but I like his idea. The people of NY won’t take this laying down, but unfortunately it will take our state lawmakers to stand up and pass legislation to truly stop this madness.

. A few of them have told me that if they suspect an illegal getting a license, they will process the paper work, then “quietly” turn the info over to the Feds(INS).

What about the current state law that requires a SSN to get a license? The GOP plans to sue on those grounds and it would seem they have a good case. The Court of Appeals latest ruling never addressed that specific issue since it wasn't being directly litigated on, although they did make a brief reference to it. I think the GOP lawyers must be confident or it's doubtful they would pursue it so hopefully Spitzer's lunacy can at the very least be postponed while the suit moves forward.

QUISLING: a synonym for traitor, someone who collaborates with the invaders of his country.

Current federal law 8USC 1373(a) PROHIBITS SANCTUARY CITIES. It reads as follows:

"Notwithstanding any other provision of federal, state, or local law, a federal, state, or local government entity or official may not prohibit, or in any way restrict any government entity or official from sending to, or receiving from, the Immigration and Naturalization Service information regarding the citizenship or immigration status, lawful or unlawful, of any individual."

U.S. Constitution, Article 4 Section 4:

"The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government,

and shall protect each of them against Invasion;"

Invasion: \In*va"sion\, n. [L. invasio: cf. F. invasion. See Invade.] [1913 Webster]

1. The act of invading; the act of encroaching upon the rights or possessions of another; encroachment; trespass.

My husband and I attended his high school class reunion last night, and in attendance was one fellow who works for NYS in a supervisory position, has been active in Democratic politics, and knows Spitzer personally. He is a runner, as is Spitzer, and has been a running partner of his. He also worked on Spitzer’s campaign. He told us how disgusted he is with Spitzer and how arrogant he is. He didn’t realize just how bad the gov was before, and says he has been fast on his way to being a one-term governor, which hopefully will pave the way for a change next election. Like so many have said, though, many NYS Repubs are not that different from the Dems, but one can always hope. A little. Perhaps a very little, lol!

Spitz’s chief of staff was caught with a “secret” file on the head of the Republican controlled NY state Senate. Ellie, baby didn’t even fire him when it became public...merely “demoted” him...whatever that means. Ol’ Spitz has clearly clearly taken a page out of the Clintoon’s play book. What an Ass.

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