Thread: Democrats hit licenses for illegals

Democrats hit licenses for illegals


November 9, 2007


By Stephen Dinan and S.A. Miller - Democratic House members can't understand why their party's national leaders are embracing driver's licenses for illegal aliens, and say their constituents see it as a "de facto amnesty."

Rep. Nancy Boyda, Kansas Democrat, said the stance taken by her party's presidential candidates is very unpopular in her district.

"What I tell people back home is, 'It is not my day to watch them,' " said Mrs. Boyda, adding that her reputation as a political maverick and staunch opponent of illegal entry distinguishes her from the folly at the top of the ticket.

"It is ultimately about the rule of law," she said. "We don't give driver's licenses to people who are here illegally. We do something about the fact that they are here illegally."

Rep. Artur Davis, Alabama Democrat, said voters in his state "get that a driver's license is a form of legal status" because it can be used to board a plane, enter most government buildings and conduct most financial transactions.

"The American people don't want conferring driver's licenses to become a de facto amnesty," he said.

The issue was brought into focus by New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer, a Democrat, who in September proposed granting state driver's licenses to illegal aliens as long as they can produce a valid foreign passport.

Last week, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton faltered when asked about the issue in a presidential debate by being unable to say whether she supported Mr. Spitzer's proposal. This week, she said she supports it for some states.

"It depends upon what state they're in. It depends upon what they think the risks are," Mrs. Clinton told CNN. "A governor of New York that has a lot of immigrants, many of whom we know are not there legally, has to worry about security. A governor of another state where that's not a problem, doesn't."

But Mr. Davis said if one state allows licenses for illegal aliens, aliens will flock there to obtain them. "That's why you need a national policy," he said.

He said his constituents won't understand why leaders of either party would embrace licenses for illegal aliens.

So far, though, it's just been the Democrats who are pushing for that policy.

In addition to Mrs. Clinton, Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois said he favors licenses for aliens while New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson's state is one of the small number that already allows such licenses.

Sen. Christopher J. Dodd of Connecticut said he is opposed, and former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina appears to be opposed as well.

Among the Republicans, all of the presidential candidates have said they oppose licenses for illegal aliens, and Republicans in both the House and Senate are trying to force Congress to take a stand.

Sen. Norm Coleman, Minnesota Republican, yesterday introduced a resolution that would put the Senate on record opposing states issuing driver's licenses, calling himself "baffled by this policy."

In the House, Rep. Peter T. King, New York Republican, said he is writing a bill that would prohibit states from issuing licenses to those not here legally.

"Interestingly enough, I'm getting a number of Democrats, and not just Blue Dog Democrats," he said, referring to the fact that the issue also is affecting Democrats outside of traditionally conservative districts.

Some Democrats in New York's congressional delegation have told Mr. Spitzer to shelve his proposal.

Rep. John Hall, a freshman Democrat from New York, said this week he opposes licenses for illegal aliens as a security risk and said Mr. Spitzer's plan could "make New York a magnet state for illegal immigrants by creating an incentive for more undocumented individuals to come to New York."

A Fox 5-Washington Times-Rasmussen Reports poll found 77 percent of adults surveyed oppose giving driver's licenses to illegal aliens. That includes 68 percent of self-identified Democratic voters.

With Democrats in control of the House, it's unlikely Mr. King would be granted floor time to debate his bill. But he said he is considering a "discharge petition," which is a way for the minority to force a bill to the floor by garnering signatures of a majority of House members.

Some Democrats also are eager to distance themselves from their party's embrace of a path to citizenship for illegal aliens, with dozens of House Democrats this week signing on as co-sponsors of an enforcement-only immigration bill.

One of them is Rep. Nick Lampson, Texas Democrat. "Somebody else might be out of step with the voters of my district, but I'm not," he said.

He said voters in his conservative district bristle at the soft stance on illegal aliens taken by the Democratic presidential candidates, which also contradicts Mr. Lampson's strong support of a crack down on illegal entry.

"As long as the constituents know where I stand," he said.

http://washingtontimes.com

I am starting to think that Spitzer did us a huge favor, as his big fork is sticking Hillary and Booama

If New York should worry about security and she is a Senator from New York, than why does she think licences to illegals is a good idea? If illegals will be able to get them, so will terrorists. If she can't see the logic in that, than I'm not sure she should be president.

Originally Posted by ourcountrynottheirs

why does she think licences to illegals is a good idea?

To get the motor vote, to get her in, and then keep her in office.

Added to Homepage:
http://www.alipac.us/article-2707--0-0.html

We can't let Hillary off the hook for supporting drivers licenses for illegals, opposed by the vast majority of Americans. And as bad as GWB has been on illegal immigration, we can't let her get away with just blaming him for the crisis. Drivers licenses for illegals? A YES or NO answer.