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.
“Still, no one can tell me why can’t these people just use their REAL ID? Mexican drivers licenses and Mexican trucks are perfectly legal in the US...”
Voting rights.
“There is no connection between immigration and terrorism”
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Serrano is either an incredibly stupid guy or lying. Probably both.
All of the hijackers who committed the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks were foreigners.
I certainly don’t miss New York State as much. The Politicians in Albany (including Albany County, where I used to live) are insane. The Albany County DA is against the Rockefeller Drug Laws.
Although I have to admit, I think the politicians up in Rensselaer County to the east, although still affected by the craziness (NYS Senate Majority Leader Bruno is from Rensselaer County), they are a bit more sane than Albany County Politicians.
Unfortunately for New Yorkers, the Governor can’t be recalled. Other states such as Arizona and California are certainly more “progressive” than New York State in the sense that they have the recall option.
Impeachment is a option, but that won’t happen because the Senate is barely controlled by Republicans (up there, many state Republicans are mostly RINOS (believe me, to me McCain is a more loyal Republican than the Republicans in the state government in NYS)). Plus, the Assembly is controlled by Democrats.
Believe me, I love living in Arizona.
He is backing down but not enough. He is a bully and a terrible, terrible governor. I hope the state is proud of itself for having elected this jerk!
Spitzer is slightly backing down - but it is not enough. He must be totally STEAMROLLED on this one.
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