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A California bill that would allow undocumented immigrants to get drivers licenses is one step closer to becoming a state law. State senate bill 60 passed through the assembly Friday. If the bill becomes law, legislators say the estimated 2.2 million undocumented immigrants in California will apply for one, an idea that's creating a lot of controversy. "I think they should be able to get licenses just like everybody else," said Nicole Holland, a Fresnan who supports the bill. "They are already committing a crime coming over here," said Albert Ratliff, a Fresnan who opposes the bill. "I don't think...

To the Members of the California State Senate: I am returning Senate Bill 1162 without my signature. This issue has been the subject of a number of prior legislative attempts. Last year I vetoed a similar measure, SB 60, because action on this issue is premature until federal regulations are promulgated to implement the REAL ID Act. We are still awaiting those regulations. Given the potential impact of the REAL ID Act on the public safety and homeland security of Californians, members of my administration are working with the federal government to develop those regulations and secure funds necessary to...

SACRAMENTO – Sen. Gil Cedillo's maneuvering to broaden the appeal of his ongoing campaign to grant undocumented immigrants the legal right to drive may cost him traditional allies. The Senate Transportation Committee yesterday approved his bill on a 7-3 vote amid the backdrop of recent massive immigrant rights rallies and a planned boycott of stores and jobs May 1. The bill, SB 1160, is designed to give illegal immigrants the opportunity to apply for a clearly distinguishable document that could only be used as a certificate to drive – not for identification. The legislation also includes provisions that would bring...

Legislation to grant California driver's licenses to hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants will be pushed in 2006 for the eighth year in a row - and this time the iron is hot for success, its author contends. "The dynamics have changed dramatically, and in our favor," said Sen. Gil Cedillo, D-Los Angeles. Cedillo said the new bill will be very similar to Senate Bill 60, vetoed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in October. California's political scene has shifted significantly since then, Cedillo said, citing three examples: * All four of Schwarzenegger's government "reform" proposals were defeated in the Nov. 8...

SACRAMENTO — Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said Tuesday that he is placing no limits on the personal wealth he will contribute toward his Nov. 8 special election to revamp government and acknowledged his measures zap Democrats, though unintentionally. In a small round-table interview with reporters, Schwarzenegger also said that a tax hike would eventually be inevitable if his proposed spending-limit initiative fails — but he said he is confident the unpopular measure and others ultimately will be approved by voters in November. In response to a question about how many millions of dollars he is prepared to contribute to his...

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will veto legislation approved Thursday to create a separate driver's license for illegal immigrants in California, a top aide said only hours after the bill passed the state Senate. The upper house sent the controversial bill to Schwarzenegger on a 21-15 vote, the minimum needed for passage, only to have the governor's office say he would reject it. It would be the second time in two years that Schwarzenegger has rejected Democratic legislation allowing licenses for illegal immigrants Richard Costigan, the governor's legislative secretary, said the bill was premature because the federal government was still writing regulations...

SACRAMENTO - Nearing the end of their 2005 session, California legislators approved bills Thursday to allow illegal immigrants to have driver's licenses and to keep certain nutritional supplements out of the hands of student athletes. Among the dozens of measures awaiting final votes were bills that would bar the sale or rental of extremely violent video games to minors, allow schools to use alternatives to the high school graduation exam and promote a massive expansion of solar energy use.That bill, by Sen. Kevin Murray, D-Culver City, would offer subsidies to home and business owners that install solar panels. It was...

After a late-night debate on the politically sensitive issue of immigration, the California Assembly on Wednesday passed a bill to extend driver's licenses to illegal immigrants. The measure would clear the way for California to create a distinct driver's license, with a unique design and color, for people who cannot prove legal citizenship in the United States. The license could be used only for driving and would not be valid identification for other purposes such as opening a bank account or boarding an airplane. The bill, SB 60 by Sen. Gil Cedillo (D-Los Angeles), would also allow roughly 800,000 people...

Senate just passed Cedillo's SB 60 - Drivers Licenses for Illegals. Assembly passed it last night. It now goes to the Governor

SACRAMENTO -- Another attempt to allow illegal immigrants to qualify for California driver's licenses is one step from the governor's desk and a likely veto after a heated Assembly debate that included charges of racism. Lawmakers voted 42-34 late Wednesday to approve a bill by Sen. Gil Cedillo, D-Los Angeles, that would allow undocumented immigrants to get licenses that would have to be of a different design or color than standard licenses and would not be widely recognized as valid identification documents. The bill's supporters said the measure would implement federal security requirements and improve highway safety by requiring that...

On Friday the California Assembly voted 43-31 to approve SB60, state Sen. Gil Cedillo's bill that would give driver's licenses to illegal aliens. I believe this now goes to Arnold Schwarzenegger for his signature. He has said he would veto driver's license bills before the federal government has released their guidelines for implementing the REAL ID Act, but it's always good to make sure. Please call, FAX, or email Schwarzenegger and demand that he veto this bill: Phone: 916-445-2841 FAX: 916-445-4633 email form: govmail.ca.gov

The Schwarzenegger administration unleashed an aggressive new offensive yesterday against pending legislation that would restore the ability of undocumented immigrants to drive legally in California.

SACRAMENTO (AP) - State Sen. Gil Cedillo is making his fifth attempt in seven years to enact legislation allowing illegal immigrants to get California driver's licenses. This time he's hoping to get a governor's signature that will stick. Former Gov. Gray Davis signed a Cedillo bill legalizing the licenses in 2003, but lawmakers overturned it after Davis was recalled following a campaign in which the license legislation was one of the issues used against him. Davis' successor, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, signed the repeal bill and vetoed another version of the license bill last year, saying it didn't include adequate security...

CALLING ALL CALIFORNIA IMMIGRATION REFORMERS! Fight Illegal Alien Driver's License BillUrge Committee Members to Reject SB 60 at Monday Hearing On Monday, June 27, the Assembly Transportation Committee will consider legislation introduced by Senator Gil Cedillo that would give California driver's licenses to illegal aliens. The Latino community and other special interests have a huge grassroots campaign underway and are pressing hard for the passage of this legislation. SB 60 has already cleared the State Senate and must be stopped now before it's too late. We need your calls and emails to committee members to show that California residents oppose...

Statement by Senator Tom McClintock in Opposition to SB 60 Senate Floor, June 2, 2005Mr. President: Let’s make one thing very clear from the outset. The new federal law DOES NOT require states to give driving-only driver’s licenses to foreign nationals illegally in this country. The new federal law DOES NOT in any way sanction states that do not give driving-only driver’s licenses to foreign nationals illegally in this country. This bill does many other things that are NOT required by federal law: California currently requires every applicant for a driver’s license to prove they are legally in this country....

As we expected, the State Senate Transportation & Housing Committee passed Gil Cedillo's driver's license bill on Thursday. All Republicans on the Committee voted no, all Democrats but one voted yes. There was one Democrat not voting. The bill will next be heard in the Senate Appropriations Committee. The committee meets every Monday at 1:30 pm. As soon as a hearing date has been set, we will notify you. Please take time to contact the committee members and the committee consultant to oppose this bill.

The latest attempt to grant driver's licenses to illegal immigrants in California cleared a Senate committee on Thursday but with provisions that restrict how the licenses can be used and what they would look like. The bill, by Sen. Gil Cedillo, D-Los Angeles, would bring California into compliance with federal law. The REAL ID Act, signed by President Bush last week, requires states to verify that people who apply for a driver's license are in the country legally. It also allows states to choose whether to issue driver's licenses to illegal immigrants as long as they have different markings —...

Senator Gil Cedillo's bill to give California driver's licenses to illegal aliens is set to be heard in the Senate Transportation & Housing Committee this Thursday. Please take time today to contact the committee members and ask them to oppose this bill. more information available at www.saveourlicense.com email all of the committee members (except for Maldonado, Runner & Simitian who don't use public email addresses. Use our website to contact them.)

Immigrants Rally For Driver's License Bill Group Accuses Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger Of Dragging Feet POSTED: 4:15 pm PDT August 9, 2004 UPDATED: 8:26 am PDT August 10, 2004 SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Backers of a measure to give California driver's licenses to illegal residents are running out of patience and time. Immigrant groups turned up the heat on Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger Monday, marching at the state Capitol and accusing the governor of dragging his feet on a promise to support a driver's license bill for non-citizens. "We do want what everybody who comes to America (wants), like you did, governor," said...

Report stirs up license debate 9/11 panel calls for standard IDs as legislators weigh a bill on illegal immigrants. By Aurelio Rojas -- Bee Capitol BureauPublished 2:15 am PDT Thursday, July 29, 2004Buried in the 9/11 commission's report is a recommendation that the federal government should standardize identification documents issued by states, including driver's licenses. In California, the proposal could inject yet another element into a proposed law that would allow illegal immigrants to obtain licenses. The emotional debate, pitting the Legislature's Democratic Latino Caucus against Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, is expected to resume now that the budget battle is nearing...