Posted on 04/13/2004 4:14:33 PM PDT by 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.
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.)
I agree. Sorry if I misread your question.
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.