Posted on 02/19/2005 7:03:47 AM PST by kellynla
SACRAMENTO – Ignored by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and short on cash, a grass-roots Republican group yesterday abandoned an initiative campaign to bar illegal immigrants from obtaining driver licenses and other public benefits.
The broader debate over illegal immigration, however, is certain to continue to play out in Washington, where President Bush is pushing new federal policies, and in California, where Schwarzenegger is tangling with Latino activists over driver licenses.
With a Tuesday deadline looming, campaign leaders counting signatures realized they were as many as 150,000 short of the number needed to qualify the measure for the ballot. The daunting challenge forced them to concede.
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Mike Spence, leader of the effort, blamed the setback on an inability to attract donations to cover the cost of paying signature gatherers.
"We didn't have enough money," he said.
Spence and others were hoping for backing from Rep. Darrell Issa, a wealthy Vista Republican, that never materialized. Issa, who bankrolled much of the signature gathering to qualify the recall of then-Gov. Gray Davis in 2003, kept his checkbook closed this time.
A millionaire by virtue of his car-alarm business, Issa did provide mailing lists and urged his followers to sign the petitions, Spence said.
"He did more than quite a few others did, even though we didn't get any money," Spence said.
Issa could not be reached for comment yesterday.
The campaign also was hurt when the Republican governor decided to sit on the sidelines.
"I think it's old hat. I mean, I've (got) no interest," Schwarzenegger said this summer.
Francisco Estrada of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund said the campaign's collapse showed that Californians want "meaningful immigration reform that will move the state forward and not cause another ugly and divisive fight."
(Excerpt) Read more at signonsandiego.com ...
The Supreme Court of Iowa ruled against Illegals getting drivers license's.
He better veto any new legislation in this area, or its 'recall time' for Arny!!
Ping
"The Supreme Court of Iowa ruled against Illegals getting drivers license's."
Unfortunately that won't help us much here! LOL
or anywhere else in America!
As they should. While their motive is transparent their analysis and implied conclusions are accurate.
When will the Republican loyalists realize the serious error they made when a rare opportunity arose to do legitimate harm to a bad trend?
And we were so close when we recalled the Dimwit Davis and had McClintock running for governor against "Bust-the-bank"...in fact even after Ahnold entered the race and was elected; had he enacted McClintock's "13 Percent Solution" when he arrived we would have already been on the way to recovery by now!
But close only counts in hand grenades and ...well you know the rest! LOL
And raise a toast to all the Republicans who voted for the RINO instead of McClintock!
Just saw on the NBC NEWS right now how Awnuld backed off the redistricting and the elimination of useless gov't. Didn't need a crystal ball to see that one coming. Of course he is still pursuing the social program improvements...bla bla bla...
The guy's a lefty ya'll!
BTW, I'm for illegals getting driver's licenses, as long as they are valid for south bound lanes only.
"He better veto any new legislation in this area, or its 'recall time' for Arny!!"
Issa's not gonna pony up for the next recall. It's time someone else puts the funds together to get our autographs onto petitions. The guy's done HIS part.
For the record, the license of illegals is nothing but a scam. Anyone can drive anywhere in America with a valid driver's license from their native country. The driver's license for the illegals is just a ruse so they can then go to the next window at the DMV and REGISTER TO VOTE!!!
Hable Espanol?
He's remaking the CA GOP in his image, yaknow.
Keen grasp of the obvious...
Well it needs to be repeated daily! LOL
Since 60% of Californians who think Ahnold is "doing a good job"
Well if this incompetence continues it'll be a long time before we can get a Republican elected governor again...
Did you guys get the monsoon this a.m.?
Tom McClintock was the best choice for Governor, and alot of republicans didnt have the Guts to support Him..Including alot of Freepers..
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