Thread: Lawmaker says Martinez' immigrant grandparents play role in

Lawmaker says Martinez' immigrant grandparents play role in d. license issue
kob.com
By: Stuart Dyson, KOB Eyewitness News 4
Posted at: 09/12/2011 7:00 PM

Governor Susana Martinez fires a warning shot at state lawmakers who want to keep on issuing driver's licenses for illegal immigrants and she says the fact that she is the granddaughter of illegal immigrants should not matter in the debate.

The governor opposes a bill sponsored by House Speaker Ben Lujan that would allow two-year licenses for those here illegally, instead of the four-year or eight-year licenses they can get now.

"What the bill that the speaker has presented does is continue to give drivers licenses to illegal immigrants and that is not a compromise," Martinez said. "I'm willing to talk about how we stop giving drivers licenses to illegals and how we compromise in making sure that happens."

"There's been compromise through and through," said Rep. Ray Begaye (D) Shiprock, who voted for the repeal of the license law last winter. "Just to have the governor say no, I'm not gonna compromise, this is it…seems to be very troubling because it's gonna be troubling to this administration in the future."

The legislature's only independent member led the charge on the driver's license repeal last winter, and he's ready for another fight on the speaker's bill.

"They want to give 'em a two year license," said Rep. Andy Nunez (I) Hatch. "I don't care if they give 'em a 30 day license, it's still illegal. And you've got these people coming in from China, east India, Poland, and Russians."

The governor recently revealed that her father's parents came to the U.S. illegally more than eight decades ago.

"What happened in the 1920's and 30's and what the law was at that time, immigration law, people came and went," said Martinez. "They came back and forth from Juarez, Mexico into the El Paso area, free-flowing. You didn't have to show a passport or any documentation to come back and forth."

But Begaye says the grandparents are a legitimate issue in the license debate, even though he sided with the governor during the regular legislative session last winter.

"You have folks that came in illegally from Mexico to El Paso or wherever, and then you have a governor that's saying let's get rid of 'em, send 'em home, so to speak, and that's a strong message," Begaye said.

"I don't think it'll have any effect," said Nunez. "It shouldn't. She didn't come here illegally. I think that's the big thing. And neither did her dad."

"Frankly, I am an American citizen," said Martinez. "I have been elected governor and it is my job to do New Mexicans' jobs…to do what they're asking me to do…and that's what I'm doing. I'm fighting to repeal a law that makes people in our state unsafe…that makes our country unsafe."

http://www.kob.com/article/stories/s2280474.shtml

Good for Governor Martinez, she obviously considers herself an American first.

"You have folks that came in illegally from Mexico to El Paso or wherever, and then you have a governor that's saying let's get rid of 'em, send 'em home, so to speak, and that's a strong message," Begaye said.

That's EXACTLY the message we the people are sending! Go Martinez!!!

RELATED

New Mexico Gov. Says Grandparents Immigrated Illegally, Backs Controversial Driver's License Bill

http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-249949.html