Posted on 11/04/2004 8:47:30 AM PST by NormsRevenge
SACRAMENTO – Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger yesterday spelled out a key concession he is demanding from Democrats before signing any resurrected legislation that would give illegal immigrants the ability to obtain driver licenses.
"I've already made it very clear that it has to be a different color driver's license so it's very clear it says foreigner or immigrant," the Republican governor said.
Schwarzenegger's demand for a different-colored license could be troublesome for Democrats who feel it is discriminatory. They have reluctantly explored less-visible ways to distinguish licenses, such as a different sequence of numbers, a code embedded in the magnetic strip on the back of the license or a simple extra letter.
But the governor made it clear that he will accept nothing less than a completely different license so that it is immediately identifiable and could not be used for any other purpose.
The governor's edict comes as leading Democrats on the issue appeared to be edging apart on whether to acquiesce on a specially marked license.
Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, D-Los Angeles, seems to favor delivering a bill that satisfies the governor. But Sen. Gil Cedillo, a Los Angeles Democrat who has made the issue a crusade, is reluctant to give in since the issue was not a decisive factor in any legislative race this year.
Schwarzenegger recently vetoed legislation that would have cleared the way for up to 2 million illegal immigrants to obtain driver's licenses if they provided adequate identification and passed background checks, among other requirements. The Republican governor said the bill lacked safeguards to prevent fraud.
Undeterred, Cedillo pledged to introduce a similar measure on the first day of the new legislative session, Dec. 6. The measure's final form probably will not be settled until after additional talks with the governor.
Cedillo, author of several similar bills over the years, has resisted any identifying mark, calling it discriminatory.
"My proposal is for the safest, strongest bill in the most nondiscriminatory manner," he said in responding to the governor.
But Assembly Speaker Nunez appears more agreeable, apparently concluding that a different license is better than no license at all.
"Put a star on it. I don't care. We'll do it," Nunez said. Supporters of the measure have compared the mark to the star German Nazis forced Jews to wear.
Cedillo said Nunez's stance does not reflect his views.
Schwarzenegger said an easily-identifiable license is important to ensure that fraudulent licenses are not used to open bank accounts or board planes.
Cedillo disputes that contention, saying forged documents can be cheaply bought on any street corner in Los Angeles. A license, he said, would allow those here illegally to be tested and buy insurance, making roads safer.
Cedillo said he suspects Schwarzenegger vetoed the most recent bill to give Republicans a chance to use the issue to capture more seats in the Legislature. Those gains never materialized, Cedillo said, because the issue doesn't resonate in Democratic districts.
"The anti-immigrant hysteria is not any louder than the AM dial," he said, referring to conservative talk radio hosts who hammered away at those who backed his bill.
An indication: We are here in San Diego. There is a poll at:
http://www.nbcsandiego.com/index.html
(look on left side about 1/4 of the way down)
Last time I looked, there was 86% AGAINST giving illegals ANY license.
Most of all, IMO, its a wage supression strategy. Lack of licenses is a barrier to undercutting the wage earing power of citizens and legal residents for whom driving a vehicle is part of their occupation.
Remember how we were always told that driving was a privilege? It's only a matter of time until they give these criminals drivers licenses.
This is not about drivers licenses. This is about the destruction of our borders, and our sovereignty. Their agenda is clear and has been to those that aren't in a coma.
Illegal aliens don't need California drivers' licenses, Guv, are you forgetting that they can use their Mexican drivers' licenses? Oh, I forgot, they don't have those either...
Who is "they?" And what clause, in what constitution, federal or state, confers on the government the power to make a form of travel a government controlled privilege?
Be careful what you ask for, or rights WILL become privileges.
great point, even a fake license doesn't help them in that case because they can't get a DMV printout
Color them gone.
.
California should negotiate with Mexico to issue Mexican driver's licenses to anyone who can prove Mexican citizenship. Think of it as Mexico outsourcing their license production and distribution to California (and any US state) for the convenience of Mexican citizens living in the United States.
We can then begin talking about honoring Mexican driver's licenses as valid for the right to drive in the United States.
-PJ
That's why the big money to the politicians and the false-front ethnic protest groups comes from the transportation industry.
The insurance industry often backs these schemes because it will increase their revenues, many states requiring insurance to drive.
End this BS once and for all, get petitions and get them signed!!!!!
http://www.saveourlicense.com/
yet we won't see Cedillo lobbying the Mexican government on such a proposal, because the MX license won't give them access to benefits here, and that's what it is all about.
they are already honored here - that part of the problem is already solved
If they claim that the "undocumented" aliens need to drive, then we'll give them driver's licenses -- just Mexican licenses, not American licenses. If they claim safety on the roads, then we'll say fine, take our road tests and we'll give you Mexican licenses, not American ones.
There is no other reason for a driver's license except for the need to drive. A valid Mexican license will serve that need adequately.
-PJ
-PJ
Uh the government? LOL. Like Arizona, all states consider it a privliege. Do I agree? No, but that's the way it is pal.
""Revocation is the removal of your privilege to drive. It is required by Arizona driving law, upon conviction of certain driving offenses. Under Arizona traffic laws, once your revocation period has ended, your driving privileges will remain revoked until an investigation is completed"".
Er, "privilege" too.....
Deportation orange would get more visibility...
You see, that's what's wrong with our education system. A guy can be so ignorant of our Constitution as to write language like that. In a proper education system, the bureaucrat who wrote that would be handcuffed to a pole, and every time he get the question "What privileges can the government confer?" wrong, you smash another joint in his body with a tire iron.
After a few pop quizzes like that, people might actually READ the Constitution.
Also, consider the consequences of being more honest. If a government said "Revocation is the restriction of your right to travel" wellllll then! People might start demanding actual due process. Call it a privilege, and it becomes easier to revoke. Which is why they want to license your access to guns.
You didn't get the memo. The Constitution is a nice document, but really doesn't mean anything any longer. Last I looked, the government controls just about everything and takes large amounts of our income.
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