Posted on 04/19/2006 7:39:25 AM PDT by radar101
Sen. Gil Cedillo's maneuvering to broaden the appeal of his ongoing campaign to grant undocumented immigrants the legal right to drive may cost him traditional allies.
The Senate Transportation Committee yesterday approved his bill on a 7-3 vote amid the backdrop of recent massive immigrant rights rallies and a planned boycott of stores and jobs May 1.
The bill, SB 1160, is designed to give illegal immigrants the opportunity to apply for a clearly distinguishable document that could only be used as a certificate to drive – not for identification.
The legislation also includes provisions that would bring California into compliance with the Real ID Act, a new federal anti-terrorism law that requires states to impose tough identification standards on all driver's license applicants by May 2008.
If California fails to comply, the federal government would not accept the state's driver's licenses from those who want to board airplanes or enter federal buildings.
“This comes from the 9/11 report,” said Cedillo, D-Los Angeles. “This is the national consensus.”
But some advocates for immigrant rights and civil liberties have urged Cedillo to amend his bill to return to its original goal of granting actual licenses – as opposed to driving-only certificates – to those who cannot prove they are here legally. They contend a lesser measure could be perceived as California's stamp of approval of the federal law.
“We don't want to send the wrong signal to federal policy-makers about the state's willingness and ability to implement the Real ID Act,” said Valerie Small Navarro of the American Civil Liberties Union.
“We're trying to put pressure on Congress,” added Jeanette Zanipatin of the California Immigrant Welfare Collaborative.
States have complained the Real ID Act is too complex and costly. Privacy experts worry about data security. Others say many people, including older Americans, do not have ready access to documents, such as birth certificates.
Bowing to calls to proceed on separate tracks would deny millions – including many here legally – the ability to obtain licenses, Cedillo said.
“The proposal to bifurcate it is a proposal for the status quo and the status quo is unacceptable,” he said.
However, Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed similar legislation last year and previously rejected a measure to grant licenses to those who cannot prove they are here illegally.
San Diego Democrats Christine Kehoe and Denise Ducheny voted for the bill.
Sure hand out drivers licenses to people who can't read english, don't know how to drive, and put them out on our roads so they can either injure Americans in auto crashes, or so they can be runners and bring in more like themselves, or deliver illegal drugs, or get around better on their own to enable driveby's. Sounds like a great idea.
you left out ...won't carry insurance
you left out ...won't carry insurance
an echo ?
Are their messican drivers licenses invalid here in our country?
Excuse the language, but with just such "document", how the hell can they determine who's driving the dang vehicle? The bill simply oozes asininity.
Had four serious accidents in the family in the last two months.One very bad.All Mexicans and none had insurance.
No, but what many don't realize (&/or take for granted)
these are generally lower class Mexicans & they do not have autos or driver's licenses in Mexico - usually from the insurance requirements.
He would have had better luck at Hanneford[sp/]in Wa.state.I hear that stuff is all over the place!
my question was snide in nature, with exactly THAT in mind.
The Senate Transportation Committee yesterday approved his bill on a 7-3 vote amid the backdrop of recent massive immigrant rights rallies and a planned boycott of stores and jobs May 1.
They are a;; bast*ds!
Sheesh I am so sick of all this crap.
The Senate Transportation Committee yesterday approved his bill on a 7-3 vote amid the backdrop of recent massive immigrant rights rallies and a planned boycott of stores and jobs May 1.
They are all bast*ds!
Sheesh I am so sick of all this crap.
ping
John and Ken (KFI 640AM) call him One Bill Gil for a reason.*
* Giving drivers licenses to illegals
Ping...
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.