N.M. House bill that would repeal immigrant license law stalls in committee
House bill that would repeal immigrant license law stalls in committee
Robert Nott | The New Mexican
Posted: Saturday, March 09, 2013 - 3/9/13
A legislative bill that would have repealed the state law that gives New Mexico the right to issue driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants is stalled — probably for good — after a 9-9 tie vote in the House Appropriations and Finance Committee on Saturday.
House Bill 606, sponsored by Rep. Paul Pacheco, R-Albuquerque, and supported by Gov. Susana Martinez, would provide temporary licenses to immigrants who came to the United States as children and fall under an executive order issued by President Barack Obama deferring deportation. But it would not allow licenses to be issued to those who illegally enter the United States.
Martinez has prioritized this issue since taking office in 2011, attempting in all three of her legislative sessions to repeal a 2003 law favored by her predecessor, Gov. Bill Richardson.
On Wednesday, Republican legislators pushed to “blast” the bill out of committee and onto the House floor but failed in that effort by one vote.
On Saturday, the Governor’s Office issued a statement from Martinez in which she said, “Unfortunately, the legislature proved today that all their talk about wanting compromise on repealing the driver’s license law was empty rhetoric and they are completely wedded to the status quo. The people of New Mexico deserve to have elected officials who will keep their word and fight for these common-sense measures and that’s what I’ll continue to do.”
Washington state also allows undocumented immigrants to hold driver’s licenses, and Illinois just passed a law giving special licenses to undocumented immigrants.
http://www.santafenewmexican.com/Local%20News/031013driverslicense#.UTzppZjn9jo
