Thread: Driver's license bill is dead, sponsor says

Driver's license bill is dead, sponsor says
scsun-news.com
By Milan Simonich/Texas-New Mexico Newspapers
Posted: 09/23/2011 06:12:03 PM MDT

SANTA FE — The bill that would have prohibited illegal immigrants from obtaining New Mexico driver's licenses is dead, the sponsor said Friday.

Rep. Andy Nuñez, an independent from Hatch, said he could not get enough support to take the bill directly to the 70-member House of Representatives.

"A majority would have voted for it, but they did not want to bypass the committee process and bring it to the floor," Nuñez said.

Had he tried to bring forth the bill for a vote of the full House, it would have failed 35-35, Nuñez said.

He said he had the votes of all 33 Republicans, himself and Rep. Dona Irwin, D-Deming. The other 35 Democrats opposed his idea of vote of the full body.

Nuñez had hopes that Rep. Sandra Jeff, D-Crownpoint, would be the decisive vote he needed to bring the issue to a vote of the full membership. But Jeff declined to help his cause because of her displeasure with Nuñez for supporting a House redistricting bill.

Nuñez's proposal, and other bills to amend the driver's license law, did not receive committee hearings during the special session.

Typically, a bill only comes to the full membership after clearing a committee or committees. But Jeff and Irwin helped Nuñez sidestep the committee process in the winter session.

Nuñez's repeal bill then cleared the House in a 42-28 vote. It later died in the Senate, where Democrats pulled together to defeat it.

Repealing the 2003 law that allows illegal immigrants to receive driver's licenses has been a signature issue for Republican Gov. Susana Martinez.

She had hoped the issue would go to a vote in both the House and Senate.

With Nuñez's bill dead, New Mexico will remain one of three states that issues driver's licenses without proof of immigration status.

Washington also does, and Utah offers "permits" that allow immigrants to drive but do not serve as government-issued identification.

Immigrant groups had fought hard to defeat Nuñez's bill, lobbying legislators throughout the session.

Santa Fe Bureau Chief Milan Simonich can be reached at msimonich@tnmnp.com or 505-820-6898. His blog is at nmcapitolreport.com.

http://www.scsun-news.com/ci_18964984?s ... ost_viewed
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This sounds like very bad news for our team. Can some of you continue to collect articles on this through first of the week before we make an announcement?

Hate to not win this one in NM, we have fought hard there this round.

We need solid confirmation we are out of time for the year in NM?

W

Originally Posted by ALIPAC

This sounds like very bad news for our team. Can some of you continue to collect articles on this through first of the week before we make an announcement?

Hate to not win this one in NM, we have fought hard there this round.

We need solid confirmation we are out of time for the year in NM?

W

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Bill Richardson and Janet Napolitano undercut Governor Susana Martinez.

Let the Boycott of New Mexico begin

You favor Illegal Aliens

then I prefer spending all travel Money elsewhere

you are now banned from any of my familys visit; I will forbid... and I mean FORBID any travel or spending money in your state

did the same thing to Utah... no more skiing there .... other loations will be found just as pleasent and more AMERICAN

I fight back with my wallet and if you have any big business out of your state I will boycott them as well