Posted on 09/30/2002 10:00:19 PM PDT by heleny
Governor vetoes undocumented driver's license bill
By DON THOMPSON
Associated Press Writer
Gov. Gray Davis vetoed legislation letting some illegal immigrants obtain California driver's licenses Monday, as he completed action on some of the most controversial bills sent to his desk this fall.
The governor's politically charged decision forced him to weigh what he said were increased security risks from licensing non-citizens after last year's terrorist attacks against the urging of immigrant rights groups that said it would make California's highways safer.
Davis demanded a series of safeguards, including fingerprint background checks and cooperation with the federal Immigration and Naturalization Service.
That angered Hispanic groups vital to his re-election campaign. Earlier in the day, however, Davis signed legislation supported by Hispanic groups giving increased bargaining power to farmworkers.
Legislators reluctantly amended the driver's license bill to comply with the governor's concerns as they rushed to adjourn a month ago.
But Davis enumerated five specific loopholes in addition to a handful of other areas where he said the language still fell short of what he had requested. Without those safeguards, Davis said the bill was too dangerous.
"The tragedy of Sept. 11 made it abundantly clear that the driver's license is more than just a license to drive; it is one of the primary documents we use to identify ourselves," Davis said in his veto message. "Unfortunately, a driver's license was in the hands of terrorists who attacked America on that fateful day."
The bill's author, Assemblyman Gil Cedillo, D-Los Angeles, had said the revised legislation should have been enough to not only satisfy Davis, but was actually improved by lawmakers.
California highways would be safer by having all drivers trained and insured, said proponents. But in addition to Davis' security concerns, opponents complained licenses encouraged illegal immigration and gave a state privilege to lawbreakers.
Davis had until midnight Monday to act on the legislation, which took on huge symbolic importance for immigrants, particularly groups representing California's large Mexican population.
Cedillo initially estimated as many as 1 million of the state's roughly 3 million undocumented immigrants would be eligible, though his staff subsequently acknowledged the actual number could be far lower.
Just 130,000 people applied to adjust their status to permanent residents or extend temporary visitor visas in all of California, Hawaii, Nevada and Arizona over the last year, according to the Immigration and Naturalization Service.
Oh, and that forceful, late night telephone call from President Bush, surely helped Gray Davis change his mind. Thanks for all the help, President Bush......
2) What the heck does a St. Kitts-Nevisite look like.
They are very dangerous, so if you run into one, call me. I'm a professional.
I think this article should be VERY REVEALING!!! (thought/discussion provoking)
I wonder if it could have anything to do with the fact that the state motto of Connecticut is "We love Jamaicans!". Just kidding. It does seem kind of odd though to have more Jamaican illegal aliens caught in Connecticut than Mexican illegal aliens. Perhaps there is a large employer there, maybe a janitorial company, that is owned by a Jamaican-American and he is trying to help out "his people" by hiring them to work for his company.
That is a negative, dangerous illegals like this one, must be HANDELED by the professionals.
"History: The Jamaican Posse entered the drug and weapons scene in the early 80s. Prior to 1986, they were involved in guns and marijuana. They are now into the crack market. The centers of trafficking are New York and Miami, with Connecticut's major cities as secondary distribution points (Hartford, New Haven, Bridgeport). Thus, we have seen an influx of Posse members incarcerated in the state, usually on drug or weapons related crimes."
Everything Dufus does is with an eye on a run for President in 2008. He can't afford to have any blemishes on his record insofar as national security is concerned. The Republicans would bludgeon him with it, and it is quite likely that terrorism will be an even more siginficant issue in the minds of the electorate by then.
No I am a Professional with 25 yrs. on the Job Experience...
Call me Immediately my number is 1-800-hot-stuff
Keep checking back, I'll be adding to the site daily. And dont forget to spread the word.
Semper Fi,
25 yrs. experience in what. An illegal like this one must be HANDELED very carefully, they are extremely dangerous and could turn on you in a minute. Most people would be putty in the hands of an illegal like this one. What is needed is a hardened professional like me.
Yea well just looking at her picture I am just as hard...
Wait...
No, I mean...
Err, nevermind...
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