Thread: Sen. Cedillo says, 'This is the year'

http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/ ... 3953c.html

Sen. Cedillo says, 'This is the year'
Will eighth time be the charm for driver's license bill?
By Jim Sanders -- Bee Capitol Bureau
Published 2:15 am PST Wednesday, December 28, 2005
Legislation to grant California driver's licenses to hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants will be pushed in 2006 for the eighth year in a row - and this time the iron is hot for success, its author contends.
"The dynamics have changed dramatically, and in our favor," said Sen. Gil Cedillo, D-Los Angeles.

Cedillo said the new bill will be very similar to Senate Bill 60, vetoed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in October.

California's political scene has shifted significantly since then, Cedillo said, citing three examples:

* All four of Schwarzenegger's government "reform" proposals were defeated in the Nov. 8 special election, prompting the governor to reach out to Democratic leaders.

* A shake-up of Schwarzenegger's top-level Cabinet elevated Republicans Fred Aguiar and Dan Dunmoyer, and Democrats Susan Kennedy and Daniel Zingale, all of whom Cedillo says are pragmatic, knowledgeable and not closed-minded on the issue.

* Even in conservative districts, voters are becoming less extremist, as evidenced by the recent Orange County election of state Sen. John Campbell, R-Irvine, over Jim Gilchrist to fill a vacant congressional seat, Cedillo said.

"This is the year," Cedillo said of prospects for his bill, which will be introduced when the Legislature reconvenes on Jan. 4.

"It's easy to beat up on immigrants right now, in certain quarters, but anti-immigrant sentiment is a declining trend because the economy and the business community needs (such laborers)," Cedillo said.

But Vince Sollitto, a spokesman for Schwarzenegger, said the governor remains opposed to the license law he vetoed and bases such decisions on public interest, not political considerations.

"Nothing has changed as far as the fundamental issue," added Assemblyman Rick Keene, R-Chico. "It's not a matter of, 'If I keep asking, the 10th time I'll finally wear you down and get you to relent.' "

SB 60 would have committed California to the federal Real ID Act, designed to improve national security by standardizing driver's licenses and processes used to issue them.

Cedillo's measure also would have created a separate driving-only license, distinctive in color or design, for immigrants who are ineligible to legalize their status.

SB 60 would have delayed changes until federal regulations are adopted for the Real ID Act, with one exception: Immigrants who have applied for legal residency, perhaps 800,000, would have been eligible for licenses.

Schwarzenegger, in vetoing SB 60, said the bill was "premature and could undermine national security efforts to identify individuals who pose enormous risk to the safety of California."

Schwarzenegger added that California should not act on such matters until federal regulations are adopted for the Real ID Act.

Proponents claim that denying driver's licenses to California's estimated 2 million illegal immigrants simply results in many of them driving illegally, hoping to avoid detection.

Cedillo argues that his legislation would make highways safer by paving the way for illegal immigrants to receive proper driver's training, testing and insurance.

Francisco Estrada, director of policy for the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, said the key issue is public safety.

"I want to be comfortable when I'm driving down the freeway that the person next to me, driving at 65 or 70 miles an hour, has been tested and should something happen, has insurance," he said.

But Ira Mehlman, spokesman for the Federation for American Immigration Reform, or FAIR, said such legislation "rewards illegal immigrants and makes it easier for people to break the law and go on living here."

Mehlman said Cedillo is becoming known as "One-Bill Gil."

"This is his hobbyhorse and he's going to keep riding it," Mehlman said. "We expect the outcome will be the same - it will probably pass the Legislature and get vetoed by the governor."

Supported by most Democratic lawmakers, Cedillo's push to grant driver's licenses to illegal immigrants has passed the Legislature each of the past six years but died in gubernatorial offices.

Gov. Gray Davis signed such legislation in 2003, but was recalled from office shortly thereafter, partly as a backlash to that decision.

Schwarzenegger, after succeeding Davis, persuaded the Legislature to repeal the bill before it became law.

Now two years later, Schwarzenegger may desire a closer rapport with Democratic leaders, but switching gears on SB 60 could backfire - especially in an election year, Mehlman said.

"I don't think this is the issue he's going to be reaching out to them on," he said.

Cedillo argues that his legislation would make highways safer by paving the way for illegal immigrants to receive proper driver's training, testing and insurance.

Why would we want to do that when we don't even want them in the country?

These people are growing more stupid by the day.