McClintock works to overturn licenses for illegals (Schwarzenegger opposes effort)

SF Chronicle ^ | Sept. 9, 2003 | Paul Feist

[sruleoflaw]

The issue of giving drivers licenses to illegal aliens has the potential to be a huge issue -- and to affect the gubernatorial recall election. According to a recent Zogby poll, two-thirds of Californians oppose granting drivers licenses to illegal aliens.

Cruz Bustamante and Gray Davis support the recently-signed bill; Arnold Schwarzenegger says he's opposed to drivers licenses for illegal aliens (BUT will also oppose the referendum to overturn Democrat-pass legislation). Arnold seems to be playing both sides against the middle -- and, by opposing the referendum, WOULD LET THE LAW HE CLAIMS TO OPPOSE GO INTO EFFECT. Mr. Schwarzenegger also contended that if he were to be elected governor he would repeal the legislation by asking the Democrats to overturn the legislation they have just passed.

Two thoughts: 1) I cannot imagine Herb Wesson and John Burton doing anything but laugh at Schwarzenegger's request to change the legislation. 2) Mr. Schwarzenegger needs to receive a high school class lesson in government; governors veto, not repeal -- and once this law is in effect he has no alternative but to go to the initiative process to get rid of a harmful measure THAT WILL ALREADY BE IN EFFECT.

ONCE AGAIN, only one candidate -- Tom McClintock -- has stood up for the people. Working with the California Republican Assembly, McClintock is leading the drive secure enough signatures to qualify a referendum. I would urge you and others to circulate petitions to obtain the necessary 375,000 or so names. Once the referendum qualifies -- and I expect it to qualify easily -- the legislation is halted until the people vote the legislation up or down.

Sincerely,

Steve Wampler Radio talk show host, KCBC, 770 AM Sundays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 3 p.m. (rebroadcasts)

“A Schwarzenegger spokesman said the actor will not support the referendum campaign but will seek other ways to repeal the legislation.” SF Chronicle 9-9-03 www.sfgate.com Return to regular view Driver's license law is facing its own recall GOP candidate leads charge for referendum Paul Feist, Chronicle Staff Writer Tuesday, September 9, 2003 ©2003 San Francisco Chronicle | Feedback URL: http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2003/09/09/MN297914.DTL Sacramento -- A conservative Republican group backed by gubernatorial candidate Tom McClintock announced on Monday a referendum drive to overturn legislation Gov. Gray Davis signed last week allowing illegal immigrants to obtain driver's licenses. The law, which Davis signed Friday and touted over the weekend as he campaigned before a Latino audience in Los Angeles, poses grave security threats and undermines existing immigration laws, according to opponents who vowed to place the matter on the March 2004 ballot. "To lower the standard for getting a driver's license -- in this era of al Qaeda and the era of identity theft -- is an attack on every citizen of California," said Mike Spence, president of the California Republican Assembly, a conservative wing of the state GOP. Opponents will have to gather 373,816 signatures in about 90 days to place the measure on the ballot next year. The law is scheduled to go into effect on Jan. 1, but it would be stayed pending the election if enough signatures are collected. The seldom used referendum -- along with the recall and the more common ballot initiative -- was one of the "direct democracy" reforms championed by Gov. Hiram Johnson in 1911 as a safeguard against undue corporate influence in state government. There have been 50 attempts to qualify referendums for statewide ballots, and only 25 have been passed by voters. The driver's license bill has become a rallying point for both sides in the recall campaign, which increasingly is focusing on immigration and racial issues. Many Republicans charge that Davis' support for the bill, after vetoing similar measures, is a desperate attempt to bolster his support in the Latino community. Supporters of the bill believe it makes California roads safer because up to 2 million people now driving without a license would get a license by taking the required written and road tests. Davis vetoed earlier versions of the bill last year and in 1999, citing homeland security concerns, and law enforcement groups were split whether to support this year's legislation. Critics of the bill by state Sen. Gil Cedillo, D-Los Angeles, said the legislation Davis signed is weaker than last year's version because it doesn't include provisions for background checks or the requirement that illegal immigrants seeking licenses also be pursuing legal resident status. "It is ironic that while other states are tightening up on the issuance of driver's licenses after the attack on Sept. 11, California is moving in the opposite direction," said McClintock, a Republican state senator from Thousand Oaks (Ventura County) who is on the ballot to replace Davis in the recall election. The bill's backers say the referendum attempt is just a way to stir up support for the recall of Davis and for candidates opposed to the legislation. "It's unfortunate some people are playing politics with highway safety," Cedillo said. In addition to McClintock, Republican actor Arnold Schwarzenegger has opposed the legislation. A Schwarzenegger spokesman said the actor will not support the referendum campaign but will seek other other ways to repeal the legislation. State Democratic Party Chairman Art Torres suggested the referendum would outrage Latino voters -- many of whom have relatives and friends who are undocumented immigrants -- and further push Latinos away from the Republican Party. Torres also suggested the initiative is part of a backlash by Republicans at the fact that immigrants have tended to become Democrats once they become citizens. "It's another attempt to beat us over the head because we are a growing element of fear for the Republicans in this state," he said. "They fear that Latinos -- which is true -- are overwhelmingly Democratic." Chronicle staff writer Zachary Coile contributed to this report. / E-mail Paul Feist at pfeist@sfchronicle.com. ©2003 San Francisco Chronicle | Feedback Page A - 10

[ysoitanly]

From what I hear, Arnold DOES oppose the driver's license bill - but you're right. Why not use the referendum process in California, not available in about 47 other states, to do it? He needs to explain what 'other means' he plans to use to overturn it.

[DoctorZIn]

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[TERMINATTOR]

[GatekeeperBookman]

Arnold is Gray Davis in a man suit. I had trouble expressing my feelings until I heard Geo. Will explain just how liberal is The Arnold-just like Davis. Will sounded as if he saw no point in the whole affair-now it seems there is a real posibility that someone even worse than Davis may be elected! What are the national & state Repub's good for-suicide?