Posted on 11/14/2007 7:22:17 AM PST by fweingart
ALBANY -Gov. Spitzer must have seen the writing in his rearview mirror as he hit brakes on his controversial license plan.
Driven by mounting opposition, Gov. Spitzer buckled Tuesday on his controversial plan to issue special driver's licenses to illegal immigrants.
"I can confirm that the governor intends to withdraw his plan," Spitzer spokeswoman Jennifer Givner said Tuesday night.
Not everybody was happy with the turnaround.
Assemblyman Peter Rivera (D-Bronx) blasted the governor, saying, "He created a tremendous amount of hope and now he has let the air out of that hope. I certainly hope this does not help him in the polls. It's a tremendous blow to all immigrants. I supported him until I saw his backbone disappear."
But Rep. Vito Fossella (R-S.I.) said, "This is good news for the security of New York and the nation. A secure license is key to a safer New York. New York should not be issuing licenses that compromise our safety."
Fossella had proposed a measure to block states from receiving federal highway funds if they granted licenses to undocumented immigrants.
Spitzer's cave-in came as a Siena College poll found his job approval rating has dropped to a low of 33% and that only one of four respondents said they would reelect him.
The poll found opposition to the license plan running at nearly 2 to 1.
Spitzer will meet today in Washington with New York's congressional delegation, many of whom have openly opposed the program.
The controversy has even hurt Democratic presidential front-runner Sen. Hillary Clinton, who has been hammered for failing to take a firm stance on the issue.
The governor's office indicated that Spitzer will tell the New York lawmakers that he is shelving the plan and that immigration is a federal issue to be handled by Washington, congressional aides said.
"We were hoping that this is exactly what he would do because this is an issue that was creating a huge problem for members of the Democratic delegation, especially upstate," a congressional source said.
Spitzer unveiled his licensing plan two months ago, hoping to bring people "out of the shadows," he said.
The measure would have allowed applicants to get licenses without submitting valid Social Security numbers. Instead, the DMV would have been able to accept foreign passports, birth certificates, previous state driver's licenses and other verifiable forms of ID.
Opponents, including Mayor Bloomberg, a Spitzer ally, feared, the plan would encourage illegal immigrants to flock to New York. Some charged the proposal would make it easier for would-be terrorists to get identification, and make the country less safe.
Michael Balboni, New York's homeland security head, argued that the new system would actually improve security by creating high-tech, tamper-proof IDs that can be accessed by law enforcement.
The governor sought to salvage the license effort last month by striking a deal with the Department of Homeland Security to create three separate types of state driver's licenses: one "enhanced" that would be as secure as a passport; a second-tier license good for boarding airplanes, and a third marked not valid for federal purposes that would be available to illegal immigrants and others.
Republicans had slammed the idea.
"The governor has finally started to listen," Senate Deputy GOP Leader Dean Skelos (R-L.I.) said last night. "He finally sensed that New Yorkers were not going to tolerate a plan that was flawed from the beginning."
Earlier, state Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno (R-Rensselaer) told a gathering of business executives in Rensselaer County that lawmakers would smother Spitzer's license plan before it ever got on track.
"It's not happening," he said. "It's just nonsense and wrong."
NY’s blue because of the cities. Outside that, it’s red, like so many other states.
They came within inches of making NY a sanctuary state. But the backlash is so wonderful to see, now some states that currently issue drivers licenses to illegals are talking of rescinding it. :)
I’m also a Bill Bratton fan.
She is a "block" candidate...creating small groups and making them grow..."One Cause groups"...Abortion, blacks, immigrants (illegal),
She doesn't appeal to the masses...Lanmd holding, hard working, tax paying, health insurance paying, Ellis Island immigrants.
True, if we could separate Upstate from NYC we'd be nearly as red as New Hampshire.
She will just say that she understood why Spitzer proposed the legislation, backed his decision to withdraw it, and then rant on about Bush’s failure to pass comprehensive immigration reform leaving the governors to deal with the problem that the Federal government should have solved.
Are you also a fan of drivers licenses for illegal aliens because those two are? Thankfully most police in Upstate have said no way and plan to arrest illegal aliens on the spot. No pampering allowed.
You can bet it will not be asked by Wolf Blitzer in the next debate! He has been warned off!
Wolf Blitzer is a planted question....why would anyone watch that tripe?
Only seven states – Hawaii, Maine, Michigan, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah and Washington – allow illegal aliens to get driver’s licenses.
Do you think they were expecting this kind of reaction though? This was almost as bad as what happened last June with the Senate except Spitzer and Clinton took most of the hits. Btw I do agree she's a special interest candidate and has little appeal to the general population.
Wow..thats weird...I posted the Wolf Blitzer comment on another thread....hmmm....time for a break!
I always thought the best thing to do was push NYC out to sea and pull the plug. I’ve been chastened for not realizing what NYC does for the rest of the state financially, but if it weren’t for NYC, we likely wouldn’t NEED all that money paid in taxes. I’m not impressed with what NYC has done for the state otherwise.
Utah is talking about ditching it in favor of Oklahoma type legislation and in Oregon there’s a ballot initiative up and running to stop it. Hawaii and New Mexico will probably be the holdouts.
Maybe FR automatically posts any refrence to Wolf on any thread that mentions him! LOL
I am willing to bet money he can’t shut up. BUT, maybe the next time he causes Hill some grief he will suffer from Arkancide. The thought gives me some hope.
IIRC in the 1970s there was a movement to make NYC the 51st state. Too bad it didn’t go anywhere...
All of these states used to be red also. Illegals voting tipped the balance in CA and these states IMHO.
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