Thread: N.Y. Governor Abandons License Plan

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=3861885

BARRETT Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON Nov 13, 2007 (AP)

Share New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer has decided to abandon a plan to issue driver's licenses to illegal immigrants, officials familiar with the decision told The Associated Press Tuesday night.

The governor is due to meet Wednesday morning with New York's congressional delegation, many of whom openly oppose the program. Debate over the issue also has spilled into New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's presidential campaign.

The governor's office signaled to New York lawmakers Tuesday that Spitzer will say at the meeting that he is shelving the plan and that immigration is a federal issue to be handled by Washington, according to congressional aides who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because no formal announcement had been made.

Last month, Spitzer sought to salvage the license effort by striking a deal with the Department of Homeland Security to create three distinct types of state driver's licenses: one "enhanced" that will be as secure as a passport; a second-tier license good for boarding airplanes; and a third marked not valid for federal purposes that would be available to illegal immigrants and others.

Clinton has been criticized by her Democratic and Republican rivals for her noncommittal answers on the subject. She has said she sympathizes with governors like Spitzer who are forced to confront the issue of immigration because the federal government has not enacted immigration reform. She has not taken a position on the actual plan offered by Spitzer.

A Spitzer spokeswoman did not immediately reply to an e-mail seeking comment.

The governor introduced the plan with the goal of increased security, safer roads and an opportunity to bring immigrants "out of the shadows."

Opponents charged Spitzer would make it easier for would-be terrorists to get identification, and make the country less safe. Many New Yorkers agreed with them.

About 70 percent of New Yorkers oppose the license plan, according to a Siena College poll of 625 registered state voters released Tuesday. The poll, conducted Nov. 5-8, had a sampling margin of 3.9 percentage points...

YYYYEEEEESSSSSS!!

I bet Hillary's pissed!!

I doubt it.

This is one less headache for her to deal with.

I'll admit that I'll miss Her Shrillness sticking those cankles in her mouth when she discusses this though, pushing for full-bore amnesty for the invaders.

I just heard on the car radio this morning that this moron is about to drop his plan. Alipac'ers and Americans we are being heard! Keep shouting we're going to take back our country!!!!!

I wonder if Hillary will do a U-turn on her favorable support of Spitz.. watch her spin this to " like I said in the beginning, I have always supported the Gov's decision.".. what a dufus witch!

I think some thanks are in order.

First of all, to Minority Leader of the State Assembly James Tedisco who put the screws to Spit when he tried to take the extralegal step of violating New York state law, which PROHIBITS, the issuance of driver's licenses to residents who do not have a valid Social Security card and other forms of legal identification.

Secondly, to my favorite congressman-the great Peter King-who pounded this issue from beginning to end on the radio and in the Homeland Security Subcommittee of the House where he moved to cut off highway funding for states that took such outrageous measures to endanger our national security.

Also, my very own congressman, Vito Fossella, who stood up with Rep. King in standing up for New Yorkers, seventy percent of whom rejected this insanity from the moment it was announced.

Finally, a hearty thanks to the great organizations who raised awareness of this treachery and gave people the information they needed to combat it firsthand.

The men and women who first put this issue on the map:

http://www.secure-license.org/cms/index.php

The wonderful actvists from 9/11 FSA-many of whom I've met personally, including the amazing Peter Gadiel-who were on the front lines fighting our tyrannical governor:

http://www.911fsa.org/

Fellow members of NY ICE, who've been campaigning against this non-stop:

http://www.nyice.us/

Yes, we actuallly have a functional website now!

:P

And, above all, to all of the activists at ALIPAC-and the people working with them who don't even know it yet-who are fighting this battle state-by-state, county-by-county, block-by-block.

You all deserve a round of applause.

Shapka, you cannot leave out Lou Dobbs! He pounded Spitzer daily on the license crap and kept the issue out front for weeks and weeks. A BIG KUDOS to DOBBS!

I knew I forgot someone important!

Of course, you can never forget Lou Dobbs.

See Previous Report:
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-90563-.html

Another person we cannot forget to thank is NY Assemblywoman Ginny Fields.
Check Out: http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-89493-ginny.html+fields