Posted on 12/12/2004 9:23:59 PM PST by CHARLITE
House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R.-Ill.) has promised disgruntled conservatives that the House's top priority in the 109th Congress is passing legislation that bars illegal aliens from obtaining driver's licenses, language the Senate stripped from the just-passed intelligence bill.
House Judiciary Chairman James Sensenbrenner (R.-Wis.), a strong proponent of the driver's license provision, secured Hastert's assurance once House leaders agreed to vote on the intelligence bill last week. Sensenbrenner helped thwart a November 20 vote on the legislation because the provision was removed.
Hastert's spokesman, John Feehery, said the speaker wouldn't hesitate about attaching the language to an Iraq supplemental bill, which President Bush is expected to request early next year. "We're going to do everything we can to get it on there," Feehery told HUMAN EVENTS.
But getting the Senate to comply with the driver's license provision is expected to be difficult, particularly because Senators Susan Collins (R.-Maine) and Joe Lieberman (D.-Conn.) fought its inclusion in the intelligence bill. Collins ducked a question last week from HUMAN EVENTS about Sensenbrenner's proposal, claiming she hadn't had time to review it (see page 3).
President Bush has also yet to signal where he stands on the driver's license proposal. In response to a question from HUMAN EVENTS' John Gizzi last week, White House spokesman Scott McClellan said: "In terms of driver's license, the President stated that we need to consult closely with states about the standards that we're talking about setting."
Sensenbrenner said the White House was trying to work out disputes within the administration before agreeing to the language. He rejected the idea that Bush might want the provision attached to his controversial "guest-worker" proposal for illegal aliens.
Although Sensenbrenner said he would like a House floor vote on his proposal--which also includes asylum reform and completion of a fence on the Mexican border in the San Diego area--he didn't rule out its inclusion in the Iraq funding request. Tying the language to that bill would make it more difficult for the Senate to reject it. Sensenbrenner said, "We will have this all keyed up so when the must-pass bill train leaves the station, this will be on it."
House Government Reform Chairman Tom Davis (R.-Va.) pledged his support for Sensenbrenner's proposal, as did Rep. Steve King (R.-Iowa), who voted against the intelligence bill because it failed to include the immigration reforms. King said he would also push for the expedited removal of illegal aliens and the ability to detain those who pose a danger.
Eleven states currently issue driver's licenses to people without lawful presence in the United States. "The driver's license has become a de facto identification card and that's all it takes to get on an airplane or buy a gun," King told HUMAN EVENTS.
Robert B. Bluey is Assistant Editor for HUMAN EVENTS
They need to do at least 3 things on this issue (although I am sure there is more)
1) Proof of insurance is mandatory
2) Proof of residence
3) Social Security card required...
Not to mention lackluster performance by Senate Majority "Leader" Frist...
Genuine insurers, too. Not some fly-by-night DBA scam outfit.
2) Proof of residence
Hopefully something beyond a few electric bills. Southern California is overrun with a million Jose Gonzalezes.
3) Social Security card required...
...and verified; not just a "gee, that looks like a real SS card."
yep.....
with you on all of those counts. Certainly there will be attempted fraud, but, there always seems to be anyway.
We need to go to a digital/credit card type Social Security card. The paper ones are past their prime in usefulness....
Immigration law enforcement and this law should be a litmus test for all Pubs. Now that we have control..and likely to keep..we need to pick of the Rhino's who won't actively support sorting out the illegal immigration and associated security problems.
I was just at LAX departing and the screeners were allowing people in with just a bording pass..which makes it possible to get an undocumented alien on a flight. I mentioned the security breach to a manager and he said they would take care of it..right.
I just don't get it .. I can see Lieberman .. the ole liberal stinkthink about getting votes, but what the heck is Susan Collins rejecting this provision for??? Anyone have a clue?? The whole controversy just slays and frustrates me .. I've gotta be missing something here.
These requirements are not rocket science.
I know this process can be circumvented through forgeries, however, it would enforce a stronger legal process in enforcing illegal immigration.
If anyone has a contraditory argument towards my logic, I'd like to understand your statements.
Most of the R's in the Senate are flacid. At least past and present leadership.
We are almost getting to a national ID aren't we.
I dont know about the passport...some people dont need to spend the money to get one.
but a notarized Birth Certificate should be included yes....
Lieberman is a schumck....
How about we abolish insurance since it inflates prices by 10 times their actual value.
Nah.....
insurance is soo much fun to have man.... /sarcasm
but in reality, there are wayyyy too many bad drivers out there to be driving uninsured. The moment you dont have any insurance, you know what will happen....
Passports are quite expensive, especially the first time you apply for one. It also takes weeks to get it, unless you're willing to pay something like 2 to 3 times the price for overnight service. And unless you actually intend to be traveling outside the country in the not-too-distant future, they serve no purpose.
I don't see why honest, hardworking Americans should have to pay $60 or more and wait a month and a half to get their "official document" just to satisfy some drone down at the DMV. A notarized birth certificate is plenty of proof.
Agree with you completely! Enforcement of our current laws would be a start! "Illegal", used to mean against the law, so enforce it.
Yup, at last a bill that President Bush can veto! Not runaway spending, not CFR, but border security.
Used to work for "The Hartford" in California - cannot tell you how many accident claims we had where the at-fault party was an illegal with no license, no insurance - and then the legitimate and insured driver would often be taken to court and made to pay the one at fault - even the ambulance bills! - because the poor illegal couldn't afford to!
which is why we need reform in that area as well....
I beg to differ, my social security card says "NOT TO BE USED FOR ID PURPOSES," on the front of the card. I am not the problem, I don't intend to comply with ANY national ID program.
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