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
The law is only a concept on paper apparently, selectively used for political purposes...
We're at war? /s
And in practice, illegal immigration is an offense on a somewhat lower order than jaywalking. It's no big deal, except to some self-styled patriots on this forum.
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Good grief...that is pure, unadulterated ignorance gone to full bloom or utter intellectual dishonesty.
I'll let FReepdom be the judge...
Forget driving, a Mexican issued "Matricular Card" is creating LINES of people to get them (right in your state probly) and open up U.S. bank accounts, etc...!
I am sure the GOP is getting hammered over this issue by its constituents....
I agree...the SS is SO ABUSED and MISUSED according to it's lawful (narrow) purposes...
It's no big deal, except to some self-styled patriots on this forum.
Everyone I know is literally waiting with baited breath to see what happens with real Homeland Security legislation 1st Quarter...I dare say, I'd bet a dollar to a dime that '06 and '08 election outcomes hang in the balance...that and taxation REFORM; with a USSC nomination up on deck.
lol
I would have to agree with you yes.....
the critical election was won, now start the critical times.....
It all starts on the 4th of January....
Scratchin my head here....aren't driver's licenses a state's issue not a fed issue ?
I doubt he could understate the issue anymore than he tried....
hopefully my examples will wake him up....LOL
Heck, you and I both KNOW that we have to control our very own borders (even Pak. Gen. Musharraf agrees!) or that battle could lose us this war.
ONE nuke taking out Dallas or Pheonix...would paralyze this economy and shoot the dollar down the crapper overnight.
But, catering to Criminal Invaders and their sponsor-Traitors is more important...sheesh.
There's probly a 6 month window of Bush being 'effective' in anything he puts forward. Shorter if he continues down his path of Border Lunacy...
yep it is a security nightmare.
Unfortunately I dont know how 9/11 couldnt have given anyone any more of a wake up call.
I am afraid we will get nailed again before the push becomes a force....let's hope they get it done fast.
Once we get a plan and secure the borders, then we can worry about finding a way to fix the issue entirely. Whatever and whenever that may be.....
...oh, we've set the expectations and now we'll see, yes sir.
I do get flamed a lot for this issue. I admit as much.
I don't care really. I still havent seen any good plans to fix the issue. hell we need a plan to fix what is already broken, driver's licenses being a good example of such.
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