Thread: GOP candidates oppose granting driver’s licenses to illega

GOP candidates oppose granting driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants; Gillibrand applauds sportsmen; Pataki reflects on past


http://www.poststar.com/articles/2007/0 ... 475821.txt
GOP candidates oppose granting driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants; Gillibrand applauds sportsmen; Pataki reflects on past
By MAURY THOMPSON, thompson@poststar.com
Published: Tuesday, September 25, 2007


* Three Republican candidates in the 20th Congressional District have issued statements in opposition to an administrative order by Gov. Eliot Spitzer that will allow people to apply for New York driver’s licenses without regard to immigration status.

Richard Wager issued a press release Friday urging incumbent U.S. Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-Greenport, to publicly oppose the state’s allowing illegal immigrants to receive driver’s licenses.

"The issue isn’t immigration," Wager said Tuesday in a telephone interview. "The issue is strictly security."


Spitzer said in a press release the change will increase public safety.

"The DMV (state Department of Motor Vehicles) estimates that tens of thousands of undocumented, unlicensed and uninsured drivers are currently on New York’s roads, contributing to increased accidents and hit-and-runs as well as higher auto insurance rates," the press release stated.

Wager said the governor’s administrative order contradicts a recommendation by the 9-11 Commission that driver’s licenses be made more secure.

"Congresswoman Gillibrand says she supports the 9-11 Commission recommendations," Wager said in his press release. "Here is a chance for her to prove that by speaking out against the governor’s extremely ill-advised decision."

John Wallace, another Republican congressional candidate, stated Saturday in a press release, "In America, the driver’s license has become a de facto universal identification card."

Wallace said he supports proposed legislation -- HR 5322 and HR 4043 -- that addresses the issue.

Michael Rocque, a third Republican congressional candidate, said in a press release issued Tuesday that "every member of the New York congressional delegation" should urge Spitzer to reverse course on the driver’s license issue.

In a telephone interview, Rocque said there now is a direct link between immigration and national security.

"Call it a post 9/11 shift, if you will," he said.

Gillibrand does not support issuing driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants, said Rachel McEneny, the congresswoman’s spokeswoman.

Gillibrand was "a lead sponsor" of the 9-11 Commission recommendation bill earlier this year, and she supports the REAL ID Act which would require individuals to show proof of citizenship to obtain a driver’s license, McEneny said.

"This is a federal mandate that will take effect in January 2010," McEneny said.

* U.S. Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand announced Monday she spoke on the House floor about the role hunters and fishermen play in promoting family values, environmental conservation and economic growth.

Gillibrand, D-Greeport, authored a House resolution designating the week as "Sportsmen’s Week."

* Former Gov. George Pataki on Sunday reflected on when he and Alexander "Sandy" Treadwell served together on the platform committee for the 1990 Republican governor’s race.

"We had a great platform. We had a lunatic for a candidate, and we went down in flames despite the platform we put together," Pataki said. "And there’s a lesson from that. You not only have to have the ideas, you have to have the candidate, and in Sandy Treadwell we’ve got the candidate."

For anyone who’s wondering, the 1990 Republican gubernatorial candidate was Pierre Rinfret, an economist who carried just 22 percent of the vote.

Pataki, on Sunday, hosted a picnic at his farm in Essex for Treadwell’s congressional campaign.

Treadwell is one of four candidates seeking the Republican nomination to challenge incumbent U.S. Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-Greenport, next year.

Essex County Republicans are solid in their support of Treadwell’s candidacy, said Joyce Morency, past chairwoman of the Essex County Republican Committee.

"We’ve endorsed him about 14 times already," Morency said, when a Post-Star reporter asked if the committee was making a formal endorsement at the event.

Here is a link to a full report that appeared Monday in The Post-Star: http://www.poststar.com/articles/2007/0 ... 13f036.txt

My son went today to renew his license at the DMV here in Utah. He said that the place was full of illegals. The DL office was asking these people if they had ever had a license in the US. If they handed them Mexican ID then there were not questions asked and they moved them forward in the line.

Yes, unfortunately, Utah is one of the 8 states not asking for SS# and legal residency in order to get a DL. That's why you guys are flooded with illegals.

I was considering moving to Utah in 2006, but when Pres. Fox of Mexico was invited to speak there with open arms, I nixed that idea. I even already had a realtor working on finding me a home. I was blunt with him and told him, "No more. You Utahns love illegals too much. And you have noooooo idea what that is gonna do to Utah."

I read that the The LDS church of Utah has a huge outreach ministry in Mexico, with 1 million converts. The church invited their Mexicans converts to come to Utah. I guess the Mexican LDS took them up on their invitation and now won't leave!

Paige, is it true that in the last 5 years, Utah has seen a surge in illegals and crime associated with them?

You wouldn't believe the amount of illegal aliens on 'hispanic blogs/forums, who are SO HAPPY that NEW YORK is giving away LICENSES WITHOUT ID'S. They all can't wait to get them! This is completely assinine, especially in a post 9/11 world! Spitzer needs to be put in a straight jacket and locked away in the looney bin.

It scares me that this could satisfy the requirement of a picture i.d. for voting.