Outcry Sinks Gov. Jeb Bush's Scheme to Reward Illegal Aliens

News Max ^ | April 13,2004 | News Max

[Kay Soze]

Outcry Sinks Gov. Jeb Bush's Scheme to Reward Illegal Aliens

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Gov. Jeb Bush's astonishing attempt to copy ousted California guv Gray Davis' doomed pandering to illegal aliens is going nowhere fast.

The plot to reward foreign lawbreakers with driver's licenses "appears dead in the Legislature, as lawmakers face growing opposition from sheriffs and constituents," the St. Petersburg Times reported today.

"It's a very difficult issue to move forward," complained state Sen. Rudy Garcia, who sponsored the legislation. In what the Times called "an ominous sign" (most of us Floridians would call it a hopeful sign), Garcia delayed a vote in the Senate Transportation Committee after losing the support of fellow Republicans.

"Florida sheriffs blitzed senators with faxes, saying the driver-license idea was hastily conceived and a threat to domestic security," the paper reported.

Collier County Sheriff Don Hunter decried the folly of relying on such "suspect" documents as Mexico's notoriously abused Matricula Consular cards.

"This illusion of legitimacy would allow terrorists to embed themselves in mainstream America with all of the civil liberties afforded to legitimate residents, visitors and citizens," Hunter wrote to senators Monday.

"This bill has really pushed a button with people in this state," said Sen. Evelyn Lynn, R-Ormond Beach. "What I'm hearing from everyone is, how can you condone the fact that they're here illegally by giving them a license?"

Sen. J.D. Alexander, R-Lake Wales, told the Times, "My district does not want to create incentives for people to break our laws."

When even left-wing newspaper cartoonists who ordinarilly wouldn't oppose rewards for illegal aliens lampoon the governor for pandering to Latino voters, you know something is wrong.

Bush, who had been an excellent governor until this stunt, insists that in backing the scheme he was merely recognizing reality, not playing politics. But where was he while all hell was breaking loose in the Legislature yesterday? In Orlando, speaking in Spanish and English to urge Hispanics to re-elect his brother.

"This president, more than any other president, has recognized Hispanics," Jeb boasted.

[dagnabbit]

Must be something in the water in Connecticut - that makes all these Bush fellows want to hand the Country over to illegal invaders.

[clintonh8r]

Jeb's been doing a great job, but this was a bonehead idea.

[glock rocks]

But where was he while all hell was breaking loose in the Legislature yesterday? In Orlando, speaking in Spanish and English to urge Hispanics to re-elect his brother.

"This president, more than any other president, has recognized Hispanics," Jeb boasted.

Another balloon?

[PRND21]

attempt to copy ousted California guv Gray Davis' doomed pandering to illegal aliens

False. The Davis Plan was MUCH more lax.
Dishonesty in the first line...telling.

[Carry_Okie]

Saved by the Internet.

[jwalsh07]

Must be something in the water in Connecticut

Nothing wrong with my well water, my kids are conservatives adn their kids will be conservatives.

Can't speak for the city folk.

[timydnuc]

Let's not get upset here! A politician can make a suggestion, even a bill. But, if the People don't like it then the bill will fall. It's called government. Let's not flog Jeb for an idea. He wanted to make things better for the People. I agree, it was wrong. The point here is, go back to the drawing board and try to convince the People again. If they don't like that one then do it again, and again, and again...till you get it the way THEY want it.

The good part of this is that Jeb won't shove it down your throat like the socialist RATs would.

Calm down and realize that this is a good Governor.

[Amerigomag]

The truth is that Florida backtracked because they got wind of California's plans should Jeb have been successful.

If the law was passed in Florida, California was prepared to spend millions advertising on Spanish language programs in California that illegal aliens could now get driver's licenses in Florida.

California reasoned that the ads would cause a second, mass migration to Florida. California was also preparing their public assistance agencies to provide small grants (the cost of a bus ticket) to those that might wish to relocate to Florida.

[summer]

Saved by the Internet.

I agree. And, I believe Gov Bush read posts on that FR thread I sent to him, though I have no way of knowing for certain.

I also still believe this proposed bill did not actually originate with him, but certainly did end here in FL at his direction. Just my opinion, and nothing more.

Thanks for the ping here, Carry_Okie.

[Kay Soze]

"Saved by the Internet."

I cannot agree more.

Contrary to what many here tell us, we do a voice and can impact the direction of the Republican party.

[summer]

Yes, that is true. I especially believe that after reading the St Pete article mentioned in this Newsmax article. The St Pete article linked above reported there are OTHER law enforcement officials IN FAVOR of granting licenses to illegal aliens.

So, had Gov Bush really wanted to press for this, he could have done so with these OTHER law enforcement officers supporting it.

But, he stopped. And, he made the right decision in not pushing this further.

[summer]

we do a voice and can impact the direction of the Republican party.

And I would add such is NEVER true for those in the Dem Party, with their leaders, in my opinion.

[heleny]

The Davis Plan was MUCH more lax.

What was Davis' plan, anyway? Prior to 2003, he vetoed the AB60/SB60 (Cedillo) bills because they did not contain the security measures he wanted, although he still wanted to give licenses to illegal aliens. In 2003, Davis signed a #60 (Cedillo) bill that was even more lax, but it wasn't his "plan."

Simply the fact that he wanted to give identical ID to illegal aliens shows that he was more concerned about pandering to them (and possibly winning the "Hispanic Vote") than he was concerned about the regular citizens.

[FITZ]

"This president, more than any other president, has recognized Hispanics," Jeb boasted.

I think they and we would be better off if they would recognize that many hispanics don't support the massive invasion from Mexico --- maybe they should consider how Silvestre Reyes became famous and elected to Congress --- and why what group of people.

[lewislynn]

If they don't like that one then do it again, and again, and again...

-----

The good part of this is that Jeb won't shove it down your throat like the socialist RATs would.

HUH?...LOL!

[lewislynn]

"This president, more than any other president, has recognized Hispanics," Jeb boasted.

What does that mean exactly?

[FITZ]

I don't know --- it's a very strange comment --- but even stranger when Silvestre Reyes who is head of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus was only elected by hispanics after he was head of Border Patrol and behind "Operation Blockade" and "Operation Hold-the-Line" --- those made him popular because he was seen as someone who was bold enough to stand up to the Mexican government and close at least partially the border. Not only that --- we just celebrated Cesar Chavez day --- king of the hispanics --- and he and his group went to the border to help the agents stop the Mexicans coming over --- even violently.

[PRND21]

What was Davis' plan, anyway?

Per Jeb...

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.

[lewislynn]

I also still believe this proposed bill did not actually originate with him, but certainly did end here in FL at his direction.

summer,summer, summer....