State House likely to vote on driver's licenses for immigrants Thurs. night (New Mexico)

KOB ^ | 02/12/2015 | Stuart Dyson

[MAKOTHEDOG]

A vote is expected this evening in the state House of Representatives on legislation that would stop the state from issuing drivers licenses to illegal immigrants. It's a political dispute that has been simmering and occasionally boiling over for a half-dozen years. Susana Martinez made this a key issue in her first campaign for governor back in 2010, urging state lawmakers to repeal the state law allowing the licenses. Tonight it looks like she will finally have the votes to move the license legislation through the House. Republicans are now the majority party there, and they expect to pick up a couple of Democrat votes tonight. The license bill would create restricted temporary licenses for foreigners who can show proof that they are in the country legally. If you're here illegally, forget it. "It is the time to do it," said bill sponsor Rep. Paul Pacheco, a former police officer. "We need to do it. The can has been kicked down the road numerous times. There are all kinds of implications if we don't do it." "In the past year, seven states have actually granted driver's licenses to the immigrant community," said one of the bill's chief opponents, Rep. Moe Maestas, a former prosecutor. "The country is realizing the positive public policy aspects, but folks here in New Mexico are still committed to an outright repeal." Republicans say outlawing the licenses would help law enforcement, while Democrats argue that it would hurt. If the bill passes the House tonight - and we expect it will - it will then go to the state Senate, where Democrats are the majority party and may possibly have enough votes to defeat the bill.

[MAKOTHEDOG]

We will see

[Thunder90]

The Feds will likely require that states issue the drivers licenses.

[leapfrog0202]

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[oldbrowser]

The Feds will likely require that states issue the drivers licenses.

It might work to issue a "non-citizen" driver's license that is very distinctive and impossible to mistake for a citizen's DL.

My concern is that if Obama decides to issue a federal driver's license which is valid in all states and for all purposes of identification, it will further reduce states rights.

What is to stop him from nationalizing the licensing of driver's like he has nationalized so many other state functions?
The federal government pays for many of our roads including the interstate highways. They do have some leverage.