Thread: NM senate committee Democrats alter driver's license bill

NM senate committee Democrats alter driver's license bill

By Milan Simonich / Santa Fe Bureau
Posted: 03/08/2011 07:32:06 PM MST

SANTA FE - The Senate Judiciary Committee tonight removed the heart of a bill that would have denied New Mexico driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants.

Six Democrats on the committee altered the bill so that people without proof of immigration status could still obtain New Mexico licenses. Foreign nationals would have to renew their licenses every two years, at least twice as frequently as people who are U.S. citizens.

A tougher bill, which would have required proof of immigration status to get a license, cleared the House of Representatives last week. Rep. Andy Nunez, the sponsor, was stoic before the senators, but he said they had "eviscerated" his bill.

Sen. Eric Griego, D-Albuquerque, said the driver's license controversy was manufactured by "the fourth floor" -- meaning Republican Gov. Susana Martinez -- to appease conservatives across the country.

"This issue has sucked the oxygen out of this building. For what?" Griego said. "This is divisive. This is a waste of time."

Republican Sen. John Ryan of Albuquerque said the seven pages of Democrat-sponsored amendments were a surprise to members of his party. Ryan said neither he nor any other Republican had seen them.

Nunez, an independent from Hatch, said campaigns and politics had nothing to do with his bill. He said people in America illegally should not be abetted by New Mexico granting them driver's licenses that "legitimize them" and enable to move about the country.

http://www.krgv.com/content/news/story/ ... egE1A.cspx

Six Democrats on the committee altered the bill so that people without proof of immigration status could still obtain New Mexico licenses. Foreign nationals would have to renew their licenses every two years, at least twice as frequently as people who are U.S. citizens.

Sad news.

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