Opposition mounts on state licenses for immigrants
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- September
- 26
The press releases and statements from Republicans opposing Democratic Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s announcement Friday that the state would allow illegal immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses continue to flow in. The latest is from Republican State Committee Chairman Joseph Mondello.
“New Yorkers know too well the importance of maintaining the integrity and security of our identification documents. The September 11th hijackers were able to board planes because they all had driver’s licenses or state issued identification,” Mondello said in a statement. “In the wake of this security gap, New York tightened regulations in order to help keep people safe. Yet, with one move, Governor Spitzer wants to move us backward.”
The policy shift means that applicants no longer have to show a Social Security number to obtain a driver’s license. Undocumented immigrants previously were able to get licenses, but the administrative policy was changed after 9/11 to make it impossible for them to obtain one. The governor and advocates for immigrants’ rights hailed the reversal and said it would allow the state to better track illegal immigrants, rather than have them go underground, and increase public safety.
Other press releases and news conferences from opponents have come in from Sen. Stephen Saland, R-Poughkeepsie; Assemblyman Marc Molinaro, R-Tivoli, Dutchess County; Assemblyman Peter Lopez, R-Schoharie; and Assembly Minority Leader Jim Tedisco, R-Schenectady.
Mondello criticized Spitzer for not consulting with state lawmakers before changing New York’s policy on driver’s licenses. Tedisco said he wants the Assembly to vote on the issue. In a story today, the New York Daily News quoted a spokesman for U.S. Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff who said state-issued licenses are a “known vulnerability.”
This entry was posted
on Wednesday, September 26th, 2007 at 3:58 pm by Cara Matthews.
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Jay Gallagher has covered Albany for Gannett News Service since 1984 and has been Albany Bureau chief since 1989. He`s a native of the Boston area and likes to point out that in this millennium, the score is Red Sox 1 championship, the Yankees 0. 
Cara Matthews has been a statehouse correspondent in the Albany Bureau since August 2005. Prior to that, she covered Putnam County government and politics at The Journal News for nearly five years. Before that, she worked at newspapers in Connecticut and covered the state Legislature for one of them. 
Is Spitzer Nuts, or just pandering for votes! That is the most absurd excuse for public policy I have ever seen! Once again, his actions speak Louder than his Words! What a MAGNET for more ILLEGALS to flood NY! What Arrogance on the part of Spitzer! Once again his actions speak louder than his words!