Yes, he did. Frankly, I don't think Simon has the brains God gave to a screwdriver. Neither Davis or Simon are worthy of holding public office IMO.
Migrant driver's licenses urged
Latino activists and others plan a campaign to pressure Davis to sign the measure.
August 10, 2002
By MINERVA CANTO and HANH KIM QUACH
The Orange County Register
LOS ANGELES Gov. Gray Davis soon will have to decide whether to sign a bill that would grant driver's licenses to certain undocumented immigrants after a months-long impasse over security concerns broke this week.
Latino activists and other community leaders vowed Friday to pressure the governor with letter-writing campaigns, days-long vigils and demonstrations in Los Angeles and Sacramento.
A gathering of more than 60 people at Resurrection Church hall in Boyle Heights to discuss the bill's fate turned into a mobilizing campaign as union leaders, community activists, immigrants and others from Southern California volunteered to organize activities.
Assemblyman Gil Cedillo, who is sponsoring the bill, said he will send it to the governor next week.
Davis' office was silent on where the governor stands on the bill.
AB60 would grant driver's licenses to immigrants who have started the naturalization process and received a receipt from the INS and a tax identification number from the IRS.
The bill would require a background check, but will not contain a controversial amendment that would have mandated a phrase or marker on the license identifying the driver as an illegal immigrant.
"The background check is the same as the one they're already doing for their INS application," said Cedillo, D-Los Angeles. "I would not support anything that would be discriminatory against immigrants."
Many at the gathering Friday said they believe the timing for such a campaign is perfect given the upcoming gubernatorial election and the importance of the growing Latino voter population.
"The conditions are right. He (Davis) has the largest immigrant population in the country, many of them newly naturalized citizens. By signing this bill, he can send a message to the rest of the country that immigrants are not terrorists," said Angelica Salas, executive director of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles.
Erica Turner of Buena Park, however, believes signing the bill will send another, less desired message to the illegal immigrant community that "lawbreaking will be rewarded."
Others, who like Turner had hoped Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Simon would speak out against illegal immigrants, have been disappointed.
Just a few weeks ago, Simon announced that he would sign AB60 if he were governor.
"I believe we need to give the undocumented community an opportunity, show them the way," Simon told La Opinion, the largest Spanish-language daily in California, during a campaign visit through East Los Angeles last month. "Because we're talking about people who live here, pay their taxes and I believe should be allowed to continue along the path they've found here."
Some believe Simon's friendlier stance toward the undocumented immigrant community is what may have helped jumpstart negotiations.
The bill was stalled in the Assembly for a year as the Davis administration and Cedillo's office worked with law enforcement and immigration advocates to address falsified foreign identifications and the potential for fraud.
Davis has previously indicated he would sign the bill, but only if certain conditions were met.
These included a background check, a phrase or marker on the license identifying the driver as an illegal immigrant, and a biometric system to limit the amount of fraud that could occur with falsified paperwork.�
From the Simon/Camejo debate (Davis absent) organized by the ethnic-minority New California Media here,
"Simon said he would not sign AB60 without 'comprehensive immigration reform.'"
It's disappointing he doesn't espouse a harder line against illegal immigration, but if our state "political climate" keeps sliding toward more democrat liberals, we won't even need any more immigration discussions.
According to a picture caption on
Conquest of Aztlan Nears Completion
California Governor Gray Davis to Deliver State to Mexico,
"'In the near future, people will look upon California and Mexico as one magnificent region.' -- Gray Davis -- [Note: Bustamante is another former MEChA member]"
Yuck. I just hope Simon stays away from immigration liberalism when he becomes governor. I don't think it's among his top priorities.
That does it. Buh-bye, Simon.