Posted on 10/23/2007 9:59:26 AM PDT by xcamel
ALBANY -- Opponents of Gov. Eliot Spitzer's plan to allow illegal immigrants to gain driver's licenses turned up the pressure on the first-term Democrat on Monday, with Rensselaer County's elected clerk filing a private lawsuit, Assembly and Senate Republicans threatening taxpayer-funded litigation and several hundred citizens rallying against the governor's "unilateral" act.
"We are going to do everything that we can to keep that from happening," said Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno, R-Brunswick, in supporting a bill passed Monday night to derail the governor's action.
Rensselaer County Clerk Frank Merola, a Republican, sued the state Department of Motor Vehicles in Albany County in an effort to block the governor's policy and, as Merola told demonstrators on the Capitol steps, "to stop this nonsense."
"The governor is not listening to the people; perhaps he may listen to the courts," Merola said. "New York residents have stated loudly and clearly that we are not in favor of giving licenses to illegal aliens and all we get from the governor are lectures on how we are wrong, and that if we were as smart as he was, we would understand and support this policy," Merola said.
Merola drew enthusiastic support from the crowd of about 200 people.
Holding a sign that read, "Don't Steamroll Our Safety," Richard Benz, 62, of Wyantskill said, "I voted for Spitzer. I regret it. Our country needs a lot more border protection."
"We're not against immigration. We're against illegal immigrants," said Karen Gilmore, 63, of Albany.
Spitzer, who met privately with Democratic lawmakers, some of whom also dislike the directive, insists it is legal and seemed undeterred by the heavy criticism and a recent poll showing more than 70 percent of New Yorkers dislike his licensing plan. He said he governs according to principle, not polls.
"That is part of the discourse we have on tough issues and that's wonderful, as it should be," Spitzer said. "Some of the rhetoric that has been imposed and brought into this issue is not only overheated but ... counterproductive."
Some of Spitzer's Democratic allies in the Senate minority and Assembly majority portrayed him as showing leadership amid fear-mongering and an undercurrent of racism.
Citing the use of fraudulent driver's licenses by the terrorists of Sept. 11, 2001, Bruno and other opponents charged that the governor's program will cause safety and security breaches and voter fraud.
Supporters said Spitzer's move will enhance security by bringing illegal immigrants out of the shadows. They denounced references to the World Trade Center terrorists.
"Racists ... are having a ball," said Sen. Rubin Diaz Sr., D-Bronx, adding that he was referring to people outside the Senate.
"There is no connection between immigration and terrorism," said Sen. Jose Serrano, D-Bronx.
He backed Spitzer's assertion that New York motorists would save $120 million because illegal immigrants who register their cars will become insured, an estimate from the state Insurance Department that opponents consider dubious.
Following more than three hours of arguments, a bill from Sen. Frank Padavan, R-Bellerose, passed along party lines, 33-19. The legislation would require applicants for driver's licenses and nondriver identification cards to provide proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful presence in the United States.
A few Democrats in competitive districts voted with the Republicans, including Andrea Stewart-Cousins of Westchester County, David Valesky of Syracuse and Craig Johnson of Nassau County.
Sen. Neil Breslin, D-Bethlehem, said he sided with Spitzer despite opposition from his constituents because he believes extending driving privileges is the right thing to do, and Spitzer's opponents are "pandering to people's emotions."
In the Senate debate and in an Assembly GOP news conference, Republican lawmakers expressed outrage at the governor's failure to consult with them or the public before announcing on Sept. 21 a policy to grant licenses to New York's more than 500,000 illegal immigrants.
That could happen as early as December if an applicant can produce identification such as a passport or birth certificate. He would no longer need a Social Security number or a letter explaining why he lacks one.
Assembly Republicans plan to push today for legislation blocking the policy and providing immunity to county clerks who defy it. Although the effort is expected to fail in the Democratic-controlled chamber, Minority Leader James Tedisco said it could help expose Democrats who "have been hiding in the weeds on this issue."
Assemblyman David Townsend, R-Rome, said the Spitzer initiative is part of a conspiracy to get illegal immigrants registered as voters in time to vote for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., next year in the presidential primary and general election.
Under the conspiracy, he said, even "Senor Tedisco" could vote.
Spitzer suggested Townsend's comments are illogical. "A driver's license is not a ticket to voting," Spitzer said. M. Odato can be reached at 454-5083 or by e-mail at jodato@timesunion.com.
Don’t call him that...he’ll sue you.
72% of NYr’s and 90% of upstate New Yorkers are opposed to this. It’s nearly unanimous, the issue is resonating like none other.
National Republicans can learn from this. Oppose special rights and privledges for ILLEGALs! Protect our borders!!
Hiya 1OP!
Yeah.. here in Saratoga Co. it’s like 96.999% against.
Hey Comrade Serrano, I would like my savings in small bills please.
>> Holding a sign that read, “Don’t Steamroll Our Safety,” Richard Benz, 62, of Wyantskill said, “I voted for Spitzer. I regret it. Our country needs a lot more border protection.”
It’s amazing how some only care about the consequences of illegal immigration when it’s a problem in their backyard.
QUISLING: a synonym for traitor, someone who collaborates with the invaders of his country.
Current federal law 8USC 1373(a) PROHIBITS SANCTUARY CITIES. It reads as follows:
"Notwithstanding any other provision of federal, state, or local law, a federal, state, or local government entity or official may not prohibit, or in any way restrict any government entity or official from sending to, or receiving from, the Immigration and Naturalization Service information regarding the citizenship or immigration status, lawful or unlawful, of any individual."
U.S. Constitution, Article 4 Section 4:
"The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government,
1. The act of invading; the act of encroaching upon the rights or possessions of another; encroachment; trespass.
The democratic Assembly has told the people they’re supposed to represent to get lost, no surprise there. For now our hope rests with the courts. If we can at least get a temporary injunction that’ll slow the train down until next year when the Senate can kill it altogether.
note to Gov. Stupid:
Take a lesson from Gov. Terminator. Last week he signed a bill that lets young men in the young women’s locker room if that’s where they feel comfortable and another bill eliminating discrimitory words like “mother”, “father”, “husband”, “wife” from my childrens’ textbooks. This week So Cal is on fire. God is in control. He is a God of mercy and law. Learn a lesson from someone else’s mistake!
“”Racists ... are having a ball,” said Sen. Rubin Diaz Sr., D-Bronx,”
Look in the mirror, Diaz!!
BTTT
Let them eat cake.
Spitzer has decided that he is emperor of teh Empire State and that we plebes need to sit down and shut up while “our betters” do as they please.
I am afraid that this is a done deal in spite of the fact that nearly 80% of New Yorkers oppose it. Hopefully, Spitzer will not be reelected and the next governor can rescind it. Heaven help us if he is reelected.
“not a ticket to voting” - has this man heard of motor voter????
good.
AND IN THIS BLUE STATE, unfortunately Spitzer may get reelected. We had a good candidate in John Faso and the RINOs stabbed him in the back.
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