Posted on 04/06/2004 6:58:21 PM PDT by summer
Note to FR, from summer:
FYI -- I am posting here below: (1) an email I sent to Gov Bush today, (2) his email response to me, and (3) another email response he directed to me, and you, from his office.
As most people here know (because I wrote about it at length on FR), I previously had a long dialogue with Gov Bush about education, via email. And, at times, I have emailed him about issues of concern to people on FR.
Consequently, this is another exclusive for you.
summer
-----------------------------------------------
Email #1, from me to Gov Bush, today:
-----Original Message-----
From: [summer]
Sent: Tuesday, April 06, 2004 3:11 PM
To: Jeb Bush
Subject: FR person's fax to you
FR Person's fax to you
Gov Bush, I'm sending a copy of this to you, as suggested in the headline, so that if you want to respond online, to the people reading it, let me know and I will post it for you. [summer]
---------------
Email #2, from Gov Bush to me, in response to above:
----- Original Message -----
From: Jeb Bush
To: [summer]
Sent: Tuesday, April 06, 2004 6:54 PM
Subject: RE: FR person's fax to you
[summer], I will get [my office] to respond to you.
Jeb
----------------------------------------
Email #3, directed by Gov Bush to me and you, from his office, to all here:
----- Original Message -----
From: [Gov Bush's office]
To: 'Jeb Bush'; [summer]
Sent: Tuesday, April 06, 2004 7:25 PM
Subject: RE: FR person's fax to you
[summer] --
I hope the below Q&A is helpful. Please let me know if you need anything else.
Best,
[Gov Bush's office]
------------------------------------------
Florida Safe Driving Act
[1] Why give driver licenses to undocumented aliens?
Florida has no power over immigration and naturalization issues, but it does have a duty to protect the safety of its citizens. Allowing Floridas more than 400,000 illegal aliens to obtain a driver license under very strict conditions will increase safety on our roads and highways. It will boost compliance with Floridas auto registration and insurance laws.
Also, a separate provision in the bill makes it easier for people with visas to renew their Florida driver licenses. Many individuals from outside the country visit Florida annually for an extended period of time. The new law allows them to renew their licenses every two years, rather than having it automatically expire every time they leave the country.
[2]Why wouldnt the state just deport the aliens once they have verified their identity?
Under Federal law, no state has the power to deport anyone; it is exclusively the domain of the Federal government.
[3]What does the bill require?
This bill creates some of the highest verification standards in the country. It has more than 15 requirements for approval, and it requires the consulates to provide the applicants documentation to the state of Florida.
Aliens would be required to:
Ø show an identification card with digital image that has been produced with standards that would prevent counterfeiting;
Ø provide a second form of identification;
Ø submit fingerprints to the state; and
Ø agree to a criminal background check from their country of origin, the state of Florida and the United States.
The bill creates a mechanism for Florida to work with foreign consulates to approve a stringent means by which to verify the aliens identity and ensure the consulate is not issuing a duplicate ID. Any consulate that cannot meet these verification standards will not be able to participate in the program.
Among the requirements consulates must show:
Ø documentation that the applicant has not been convicted, or is wanted of a crime equal to a felony in his home country;
Ø a certified copy of the applicants official driving record from home country;
Ø certification that the form of identification is legitimate;
Ø certification that the underlying documents used to issue identification are legitimate; and
Ø certification that the home country has security system in place to prevent multiple issuance of identification cards to the same individual.
[4] Who does this bill not apply to?
Aliens from countries on the U.S. State Departments list of state sponsors of terrorism are prohibited from applying, as are those who are subject to an order of deportation. Felons cannot apply nor can aliens who cannot establish presence in the state for at least six months in the past five years.
[5] How does this differ from California law?
First, California law did not exclude applicants from the list of countries maintained by the U.S. Department of State as state sponsors of terrorism. In addition, California did not require state and national criminal background checks, nor did it provide procedures in conjunction with foreign consulates to verify identity and criminal backgrounds with an applicants home country.
[6] Where will the licenses be valid?
The licenses are valid in Florida only, for two years. They will have a distinct look from standard driver licenses.
[7]How will the bill be implemented?
Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles will be responsible for adopting stringent procedures and coordinating with the consulates to ensure verifications of identity and background history of aliens. Consulates will have to provide certifications of the processes they have in place to establish identity of their citizens who apply. If a consulate does not meet these standards, their citizens will be prohibited from applying.
[8]What are the benefits of issuing the licenses?
First and foremost, this bill promotes safety by requiring that aliens pass driving tests before they get on the road. It will also boost compliance with Floridas auto registration and insurance laws. Increasing the number of insured drivers is an enormous benefit to all on the road. Currently, a licensed driver who gets into an auto accident with an unlicensed alien has no means to recover damages against the uninsured alien.
There are also law enforcement benefits; a database of licensed drivers helps law enforcement verify the identity of a driver who is pulled over. Unlicensed, undocumented aliens currently are not part of this database.
To get a Florida license/insurance you'll also need a SS card. Bush says it will only be good in Florida. Since he can't enforce federal law, how can he dictate what's legal in other states? Other states could step up and honor illegal Florida licenses and even transfer them.
Florida license + SS card = backdoor amnesty...Period.
To get a Florida license/insurance you'll also need a SS card. Bush says it will only be good in Florida. Since he can't enforce federal law, how can he dictate what's legal in other states? Other states could step up and honor illegal Florida licenses and even transfer them.
Florida license + SS card = backdoor amnesty...Period.
![]() |
Obtaining Your Florida Driver's License or Identification Card |
|||||
![]() Florida law requires identification, proof of date of birth and social security number (if issued) from all customers before a driver license or identification card can be issued. Each U.S. citizen who applies for an original driver license or identification card must submit: One of the following (3) documents:
And a secondary document, which substantiates the primary document, is required. Document may include, but is not limited to, the original or certified copy of one of the following:
United States Citizens With Out-of-State Licenses Any person who holds a license or identification card from the District of Columbia, United States Territories or one of our 50 states (with the exception of those listed below) may present his/her license or ID card as primary identification document. An approved Important Note: Driver licenses from the following states
are acceptable as secondary identification and to reciprocate driving privileges, and must be accompanied by one of the following:
Name Change for United States Citizens If you have legally changed your name by marriage or court order, you must submit the original or a certified copy of your marriage certificate or court order. No photocopies will be accepted unless certified by the issuing authority.
Original Driver License or Identification Card Florida law requires identification, proof of date of birth and social security number (if issued) from all customers before a driver license or identification card can be issued.
Non-Immigrants
The following documents will only be accepted with a supporting document, including but not limited to a Passport, Florida Driver License or Identification Card, Driver License from any other state, Employment Authorization Card, Employer Identification, Identification from home country, Identification from school or college, Social Security Card or other INS document.
Under federal law, Canadian citizens are non-immigrants and are allowed to stay in the U.S. without obtaining INS documentation. Canadians without INS documents must provide proof of Canadian citizenship to be issued a Florida driver license or identification card by presenting two of the following documents:
All Canadian citizens will be issued an original or renewal driver license for two calendar years from the date of issue. If you are not a Canadian citizen and have a Canadian driver license, you are required to provide the same proof of legal presence as any other non-U.S. citizen. Renewals, Duplicates or Replacements for Non-United States Citizens
Name Change for Non-United States Citizens
|
Typical copout. They could always arrest them and turn them over to the INS, but apparently that is too hard.
Ø agree to a criminal background check from their country of origin, the state of Florida and the United States.
So Cuba would agree to this?? I think not!
They will have a distinct look from standard driver licenses.
Good, but will not last.
The problem with all this, that anyone who can qualify for this, probably already has a driver's license issued by his home country and does not need one issued by Florida.
Why is that? Why cede that point?
Are you saying we cannot enforce our laws because the law-breakers are too numerous?
On a separate topic:
Why on earth would Gov. Bush think a "criminal background check" conducted by e.g. Mexico would accomplish ANYthing whatsoever?
How out of touch with reality can the man possibly be?
As usual, we in Cal have already been through this kind of garbage, with our own government socialist. It's no different, all the same government agenda. Except California's hung Gray Davis from a political rope, ending his political life in total disgrace.
The problem here is, this guy is a Republican. So your going to get hear from those that try and bend and support this thing and tell how it's good for us now.
These are the same people that routinely put their beltway party before country.
The lunatics are finally in charge of the asylum.
And I feel like Charlton Heston in the Planet of the Apes.
Whether we agree or disagree with him, we are better informed by reading her personal take on this issue.
I personally disagree with him on this bill, but I appreciate reading the reasoning behind his decision.
Once again, thank you for doing the right thing and requesting from information from the governor personally.
Friends can disagree, but they always talk to each other.
Let me help you. The politicos in Cal attempted to pander to criminal illegal aliens by giving them legitimate drivers licenses, they may still get away with it. As their *clear* goal is to undermine our sovereignty and our borders. And they are doing a darn good job of it. Look at the landscape. Politicos all over the country are offering reduced tuition, welfare, food stamps, driver's licenses, all on the bending backs of the tax payers.
Now the Republican governor in Florida is doing the same thing. As your absorbing this, you'll realize it's a complete sellout.
Absolutely!
They came here, didn't they?
Maybe not by luxury jet airliner: might have to press a few cattlecars into service.
"...his wife somehow goofed up the red tape.
What some people call "red tape," other folks call "laws."
Some of us try to abide by them.
I don't believe these people should have any rights but Motor Voter is a big issue with me.
If they get on the voter rolls we'll have Speedy Gonzales in the White House.
We can't do it in a week, but we can certainly do it...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.