Driver’s license law still gets thumbs down (NM-70% oppose licenses for illegals)

The Albuquerque Journal ^ | February 23, 2015 | Olivier Uyttebrouck

[CedarDave]

New Mexico voters continue their long-standing opposition to a 2003 law that allows the state to issue driver’s licenses to immigrants who are in the U.S. illegally, a new Journal Poll found.

Seven in 10 registered voters surveyed last week said they opposed the law – results that mirror those of earlier Journal Polls.

Respondents were asked: “Do you support or oppose New Mexico’s state law that allows driver’s licenses to be issued to immigrants who are in the country illegally?”

Support is strongest among Democrats, Hispanics and younger voters, the poll showed. But even among those groups, a majority opposed issuing driver’s licenses to foreign nationals who are in the U.S. without authorization.

When New Mexicans weigh whether the state “should give an official document to immigrants who are not here legally, on its face, a lot of people have a gut feeling against that,” he said.

The law was opposed by 91 percent of Republicans, 56 percent of Democrats and 69 percent of independents. The poll was conducted Feb. 17-19.

Repealing the 12-year-old state law has been a priority for Republican Gov. Susana Martinez since she was elected in 2010.

“Republicans nearly universally oppose the current law,” Sanderoff said. “It is of note that even a majority of Democrats oppose the law.”

Among Hispanic voters, 32 percent said they supported the law and 62 percent opposed it. Gender was not a factor in determining opinion.

[CedarDave]

The NM House or Representatives (now under Republican control) passed a repeal law ten days ago on a 39-29 vote. But the Democrat controlled senate has bottled it up. The state senate is also against the Governor's plan to end social promotion* and if a "right to work" passes the house it will also receive "deep six" treatment. The biggest supporters of NM senate Democrats are the teachers and government employee unions who fear (rightly so) that their power and money will be drastically diluted if Right to Work passes. In the meantime they oppose the Governor's education and other legislative initiatives.

(* About two-thirds of New Mexico voters support a state law that would require public schools to hold back students who struggle to read by the end of the third grade, according to a new Journal Poll. The statewide survey conducted last week found that 67 percent favored retention, with strong support in every demographic category in the survey: age, gender, political affiliation, education level and geography. In the Albuquerque area, 70 percent said they favored it.

[BenLurkin]

As if our globalist masters care about what American citizens think.

[CedarDave]

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[grobdriver]

Do you support or oppose New Mexico’s state law that allows driver’s licenses to be issued to immigrants who are in the country illegally?

What a stupid statement - to even have to ask the question.

A state law that rewards illegal behavior? Really?

[stephenjohnbanker]

Around 70% of the country is against Obamacare & amnesty.

The DNC doesn’t care

The GOPe doesn’t care

[CPT Clay]

Wow, 70% of New Mexicans actually have some common sense.

[CedarDave]

By the way, the law was touted as one way to reduce the number of illegals who drive and don’t have insurance. From what I’ve gathered from reporting of accidents is that most still don’t have insurance. However, it provides an ID for them to get other benefits or open credit accounts, etc. plus registering to vote.

[factoryrat]

The obama administration will simply have a federal judge uphold the existing NM law, or if it is repealed by statewide vote, simply rule that it’s unconstitutional, and have the law put back into effect. The state government will then comply, if they want to keep riding the fedgov gravy train. See gay marriage for an example of how this shakedown racket works.

[grobdriver]

the law was touted as one way to reduce the number of illegals who drive and don’t have insurance

Because of course those who are in the country illegally are going to follow the laws concerning auto insurance...

[pepsi_junkie]

Whatever. The Justice Dapartment will step in and find some liberal judge to say that they're not getting due process, undue hardship, whatever and compel the state to issue them.

Voters be damned. It's the new democracy.

[dontBSme]

The Dims in the N M Senate and House will never vote to limit their new compadres “rights”.

[Carthego delenda est]

“Do you support or oppose New Mexico’s state law that allows driver’s licenses to be issued to immigrants who are in the country illegally?
What a stupid statement - to even have to ask the question.

A state law that rewards illegal behavior? Really?”

These same congressional POS’s who want to continue to reward illegal behavior by giving illegals state issued drivers licenses are the same POS’s who are vehemently opposed to a law requiring using that same drivers license or some other official photo ID at the polls on Election Day. It is standard procedure for employees of The Motor Vehicle Division to ask everyone if they would like to register to vote at the same time they go in to obtain a drivers license. So when illegal border crosser Alfredo E Menudo goes into a New Mexico MVD office to get rewarded with a drivers license, at the same time he can register to vote so at the next election he can return the favor with a vote for the democrat who set it up for him to get a drivers license rather than being taken into custody and deported.

[Marko413]

For all the times a vote in California gets ruled as “unconstitutional”, I wouldn’t be surprised if the same thing happens in NM. It’s embarrassing how often voters get overruled in our democratic republic.

[Carthego delenda est]

“It’s embarrassing” is putting it way too kindly. I suppose it is embarrassing that so many of our elected officials are so devoid of principles that they openly create ‘law’ in defiance of what their constituents want in favor of a small minority of special interests that will handsomely reward them by filling their wallets and purses with ‘campaign’ contributions and other perks.

It is actually more along the lines of disgusting and even criminal, that they would not only reward illegal activity, but by doing such, are contributing to the downfall and destruction of this once great nation. Things like this used to be called tyranny or sedition. Now, with the help of the complicit and exempt media, through a wink and a nod, such behavior is rewarded. It does not take a rocket scientist from Sandia Labs or Los Alamos to see ahead that this will lead to more lawlessness and ultimately, the downfall of our nation. But hey, that’s the libtards plan.

[roofgoat]

who cares what the voters say. Black Robes will just rule it unconstitutional and abuse of their Civil Rights.

Done! Now illegals get licenses.

[roofgoat]

unless good men decide to take up arms, lawlessness and evil will continue to steamroll. Doesn’t take an intellectual, a historian or a sociologist to know this.

[Rodamala]

Overriding Federal Judge stay on will of the voters in 3... 2... 1...

[CedarDave]

It was a ABQ Journal poll by NM’s respected polling group not a vote. NM does not have citizen-initiated voter initiatives so it is up to the legislature to repeal the law.

[CedarDave]

NM voters cannot initiate repeal of the law. See #18.

(BTW, I believe citizen initiatives that bypass the legislature usually result in poor law mainly due to emotion involved with an issue. That’s why we have legislatures where debate [in theory] should result is a more perfect result.)

[Rodamala]

Rog.