Thread: GOP cries foul over immigrant licenses

http://www.freenewmexican.com/news/49507.html

GOP cries foul over immigrant licenses
(16 comments; last comment posted Today 10:51 am)


By TIM KORTE | Associated Press
September 20, 2006

ALBUQUERQUE (AP) - The state Republican Party claims Gov. Bill Richardson's administration blocked GOP efforts to determine the names of illegal immigrants who have obtained New Mexico driver's licenses.

Republicans expressed concern Tuesday that illegal immigrants could use New Mexico licenses to register to vote. GOP officials said they had hoped to check names against voter registration rolls as a safeguard against potential voter fraud.

"Now we cannot do that," said Lyn Ott, a Republican Party election monitor. "Without a complete list, the integrity of the election process in New Mexico is seriously compromised."

A spokesman for the state Taxation and Revenue Department, David Harwell, denied there was any effort to make it harder for the Republicans to get the information they wanted.

"We complied in every way to the full letter of the law with the requests they made," he said.

The Republicans estimated the number of illegal immigrants holding licenses at 30,000.


They submitted requests through the state's Inspection of Public Records Act but said the Richardson administration cited executive privilege and attorney-client privilege in limiting the information that was released.

On one document that wasn't entirely redacted, Republicans said a DMV audit indicated 2,423 of 9,631 records didn't match tax identification numbers issued by the Internal Revenue Service.

"What does the governor's administration have to hide?" asked Marta Kramer, executive director of the New Mexico Republican Party.

Harwell said the audit wasn't expected to be complete "until late fall." That's part of the reason the list was provided with names blacked out, he said.

A 2003 New Mexico law lets foreign nationals present a passport, a federal tax identification number or a consular identification card to apply for a license.

Earlier this year, Richardson proposed requirements for immigrants to provide two different types of identification before they could get a license.

Ott submitted the GOP's initial request July 25 to the Taxation and Revenue Department, which oversees the Motor Vehicle Division.

In response, state officials on Aug. 29 released 150 pages of e-mails and other documents _ nearly all containing redacted information.

The papers display correspondence between parties, but the exchanges on nearly every document are blacked out. On most e-mails, only the address, subject and signature lines are shown.

Harwell also said a federal law that protects drivers' privacy rights prevented the department from disclosing the names sought by Republicans.

"We are prohibited from revealing certain information. We can't do it. That's why we provided them with redacted information," Harwell said.

"This administration and our department has absolutely nothing to hide," he added.

but said the Richardson administration cited executive privilege and attorney-client privilege in limiting the information that was released

Excuse me?

Well, we know what side he's on! Give him the boot!