Poll shows 72% oppose licensing illegal immigrants
BY PETE DAVIS
Thursday, October 18, 2007 9:58 AM CDT

http://www.queenscourier.com


Nearly one month after Governor Eliot Spitzer announced his intention to offer illegal immigrants the right to apply for driver’s licenses, the debate about the merits of the program continues to dominate the headlines on a daily basis.

On Monday, October 15, State Senate Republicans questioned Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Commissioner David Swarts for nearly four hours grilling him about the proposal while arguing that it would cause an increased terror threat.

However, Swarts continued to echo Spitzer’s sentiments that the policy would make the streets safer as well as decrease auto insurance rates throughout the state.

While leaders on both sides of the political aisle continue to trade barbs over the plan, 72 percent of New Yorkers oppose Governor Spitzer’s plan, according to a Siena (College) Research Institute poll of registered voters released on the same day Swarts testified.

“Nearly three-quarters of voters - including 59 percent of Democrats - oppose the Governor’s plan to give driver’s licenses to undocumented aliens,â€