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.

[heleny]

I know what California law was. I live in CA.

I originally responded to your post that what Gov. Jeb Bush wants is different from the "Davis Plan." What passed (SB60) was clearly not what Davis wanted (i.e., his "Plan," if he had one), but he signed it anyway.

It is simply wrong that either governor wanted to give illegal aliens ID identical to the ID the rest of us use, thereby seriously undermining the usefulness of our ID cards and encouraging illegal aliens to stay here. Illegal aliens should not be here; legal aliens can get ID or use their own country's ID; we should not help illegal aliens stay here illegally. (Whether certain security checks are sufficient is a different issue.)

[ovrtaxt]

I heard him on Hannity's radio show talking about this. His point was that the Feds weren't doing their part in keeping these people out, so the state should do something about the security problem by registering these people.

Well, the President is his brother! Why doesn't he pick up the phone and add his voice to all the others who are telling the Prez to fix the borders? That excuse was BS, and there are political reasons for it, which apparently trump recognition of the laws of a sovereign and just nation.

I like Jeb a lot, but this was a boneheaded idea.

[PRND21]

It is simply wrong that either governor wanted to give illegal aliens ID identical to the ID the rest of us use.

I agree. Sorry if I misread your question.