NY SENATE PASSES BILL TO PROHIBIT DRIVERS LICENSES FOR ILLEGAL ALIENS!
Posted on Tuesday, October 23 @ 08:21:50 EDT
Topic: licenses for illegal aliens terrorists
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 SENATE PASSES BILL TO PROHIBIT DRIVERS LICENSES FOR ILLEGAL ALIENS
The New York State Senate today passed legislation that would stop
Governor Spitzer's plan to issue drivers licenses to illegal aliens by
requiring a social security number or proof of authorized presence in
the United States to obtain a New York State drivers license or
non-driver identification card.
"I have never seen such strong and united opposition to a proposal
by the Governor," Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno said.
"Governor Spitzer's plan to give drivers licenses to illegal aliens has
incensed New Yorkers in every part of the State and every political
party because they see the threat it would pose to public safety and
security. The Governor insists on moving forward with this plan, but
today the Senate passed legislation to stop it. I urge the Assembly to
pass this bill to send a clear message to the Governor that he should
drop this plan."
The legislation (S.6484) the Senate passed today is sponsored by
Senator Frank Padavan (Queens). It would require applicants for a
drivers license or non-driver identification card to submit a social
security number. When a social security number cannot be provided, the
applicant must demonstrate they are ineligible to get a number and
provide satisfactory proof that the applicant's presence in the United
States is authorized under federal law.
Subjects, illegal immigration, illegal aliens, NY, New York, state, laws, Republicans, Democrats, Governor, Spitzer is a sellout, bill, legislation, power to the people, 72% oppose licenses for illegals
Date: 10/22/2007
Office: Senator Joseph Bruno
"My legislation ensures that the most important form of personal
identification, the New York state drivers license, maintains its high
standard of security and integrity," Senator Padavan said. "This
comprehensive legislation reverses the Spitzer administration's
dangerous policy that grants illegal aliens drivers licenses and enacts
the necessary safeguards to help eliminate the fraudulent issuances of
drivers licenses throughout the state while helping to protect the
safety, security and well-being of all New Yorkers."
The Senate held a public hearing on the legislation last week.
Experts on national security, immigration, secure drivers licenses and
ID cards, and representatives of the families of 9/11 victims spoke out
against the Governor's plan, calling it a threat to security.
Senator John Flanagan (R-C-I, East Northport), a co-prime sponsor
of the bill, said: "The governor's policy change was put in place
without any public debate or public vote and, on an issue this
important, that is an unacceptable way to govern. Millions of New York
residents have stated that they are opposed to this policy and today's
vote will let them know that their voice is vital to the process and
that their opinion will not be ignored. This is a policy that weakens
our collective security and I am hopeful that the Assembly will join us
in voicing the people's opinion that this is wrong for our state."
Senator Vincent Leibell (R-C-I, Patterson), Chairman of the Senate
Committee on Homeland Security, said: "We are examining our full array
of options, including passing legislation, holding public hearings and
the commencement of litigation, to enjoin his attempt to put all our
citizens at risk. Before this action taken by the Governor, New York
State was the national benchmark for assuring the security and
reliability of its drivers licenses. A drivers license is the most
important, uniformly recognized identification document used in the
United States. This action of the Governor would seriously place every
New Yorker at risk and dramatically compromise our security."
Senator Martin Golden (R-C, Brooklyn) said: "The Governor's
proposal to give illegal immigrants drivers licenses is wrong on so
many levels. It flaunts the Constitution and the laws of our Nation as
well as of our State, and puts the lives of all New Yorkers at risk.
The reason we passed this legislation is because the Governor turned
his back on the wishes of his constituents and is pursuing an
ill-conceived and potentially deadly agenda."
Senator Hugh Farley (R-C, Schenectady) said: "This issue has
galvanized my constituents, with nearly 100 percent of those who have
contacted me opposing the Governor's plan. Many people in our area are
first- or second-generation immigrants who have worked hard to become
American citizens. They are strongly opposed to the Governor's efforts
to reward lawbreakers, while, at the same time, making it more
difficult for law-abiding citizens to comply with federal identity
requirements."
Senator Dale M. Volker (R-C-I, Depew) said: "Illegal aliens
receiving legal New York drivers licenses smacks in the face of smart
and sound public policy. Now, the Governor wants to give motor-voter
documentation to these same illegal aliens so that they may be able to
vote. The public is outraged by these non-sensicle proposals and the
bill we passed today will right the Governor's wrong. Governing by
edicts and circumventing our democratic institutions must stop,
governing to score political points at the expense of sound public
policy must stop, and listening and cooperating with the State
Legislature to get results on a myriad of economic development, tax
relief, job creation, and sound criminal justice policies must begin."
State Senator Serphin R. Maltese (Queens) said: "Ultimately, this
is a serious gap in our national security - we may as well hand the
terrorists the keys to the state. In the fight against terrorism, we
are only as safe as our weakest link and Governor Spitzer is making New
York State the weak link. It is a recipe for disaster. We need to
remember a drivers license is a privilege, not a right."
Senator Carl L. Marcellino (R-Syosset) said: "We are all the
children or grandchildren of legal immigrants. They, and millions like
them, built this great country. All are welcome in America, but through
the front door, not the back door. Our driver's license must remain one
of the most important documents the government issues to establish
one's identity."
Senator Mary Lou Rath (R-C-I, Williamsville), Chair of the Senate's
Tourism, Recreation and Sports Development Committee, said: "By trying
to enforce a policy that was not properly vetted by the public and the
Legislature, the Governor is not only compromising our state's
security, he is jeopardizing our citizens' ability to
travel--particularly cross-border travel. Much tourism is generated by
Canadian and Western New York residents attending sporting events and
participating in recreational activities. Invalidating our drivers
license as a means of ID certainly would limit the ease of travel we
now enjoy."
Senator Joseph Griffo (R-C, Rome) said: "Jamming a major public
policy decision down the throats of county clerks is an arrogant
exercise in the abuse of power. Our system of government is built on
openness and debate, not decisions reached in isolation."
Senator John A. DeFrancisco said: "The Governor's executive order
flies in the face of both state and federal law and could potentially
jeopardize the safety and security of all New Yorkers. Furthermore, a
majority of New Yorkers are opposed to the Governor's plan. The
legislation we passed today is a necessary step in helping to protect
New Yorkers and uphold the law."
Senator Bill Larkin (R-C, Cornwall-On-Hudson) stated: "I believe we
should listen to the more than 70 percent of New Yorkers who oppose
this radical plan by the Governor, as well as to the families of the
3,000 murdered on September 11th who, as a united group, have publicly
called all states to join the overwhelming majority of the states that
have enacted bills to ban the issuance of drivers licenses to illegal
immigrants and other lawbreakers."
Senator Michael F. Nozzolio (R-C, Fayette) said: "Thousands of my
constituents have contacted me to express their strong opposition to
Governor Spitzer's proposal to grant drivers licenses to illegal
aliens. This misguided policy by the Governor raises serious issues for
our homeland security agencies charged with the responsibility to
protect our borders and safeguard our security. It would also result in
tax increases as New York State residents struggle to bear the costs of
housing, education and medical services to individuals who will seek
New York out as a place to live."
Senator Owen H. Johnson (R-Babylon) said: "People who are here in
the United States legally and can meet the requirements for a New York
State drivers license should continue to be able to obtain one. As for
loosening the standards for the drivers license and allowing those who
are here illegally to obtain one, I am absolutely opposed. It's not
only a threat to our safety and security, it's just plain wrong. That's
why I am supporting this legislation today. I hope the Assembly will
join us in passing this legislation so that this ill-advised policy can
be stopped."
Senator George Winner (R-C, Elmira) said: "In an era defined by
homeland security, the Governor's action is outrageous. To take the
action with no public input, and even on short notice to the county
clerks charged with carrying out the misguided policy, is arrogant."
Senator Tom Libous (R-C-I, Binghamton) said: "Hundreds of concerned
citizens in my District have reached out to me and remain almost
unanimously against the Governor's proposal. This is a non-partisan
issue across the State and in the Southern Tier. That's why the
Governor should halt his plan. It threatens our safety and wrongly
rewards people for breaking the law."
Senator Steve Saland (R,I,C Poughkeepsie) said: "New York was at
the epicenter of the tragic events of September 11, 2001, and that
horrific day taught us that we must be vigilant to keep our State and
country safe. The simple precaution of requiring a Social Security
Number to prove one's legal status in this country is a commonsense way
of helping to prevent terrorists from obtaining one of the most
routinely accepted forms of identification used in this country."
Senator Dean Skelos (R, Rockville Centre) said: "Governor Spitzer's
plan poses a threat to public safety and security, diminishes the value
of licenses held by law-abiding citizens, opens the door to potential
voter fraud and rewards illegal behavior. It is not surprising then,
that 72 percent of New Yorkers oppose this ill-advised and deeply
flawed policy. This legislation would prevent Governor Spitzer's
disastrous plan from moving forward, and I urge the Assesmbly to act on
it swiftly."
The bill was sent to the Assembly.
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Discuss this release with citizen activists at
http://www.alipac.us/ftopicp-506510.html#506510
Note: IMMEDIATE VOLUNTEER HELP NEEDED. SEE THIS LINK!
http://www.alipac.us/article-2662-thread-1-0.html
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