World Net Daily: Schwarzenegger Ready To license Illegal Aliens (Driver's Licenses)

World Net Daily ^ | January 30, 2004 | WorldNetDaily.com

[Pubbie]

Though he campaigned hard against it, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is negotiating with a Democratic state lawmaker to draft a bill that would grant driver's licenses to illegal aliens.

Schwarzenegger's first act as governor last fall was to repeal SB 60, signed by then-Gov. Gray Davis, which would have opened the road for the estimated 2 million illegal immigrants of driving age in the Golden State.

This week, however, the new governor said he was "absolutely positive we'll come up with a great bill" to replace SB 60, opposed by 70 percent of California voters, according to exit polling during the October recall election.

Schwarzenegger said his office has been working closely to craft a successor to SB 60 with state Sen. Gil Cedillo, D-Los Angeles, a former member of MeCha, the radical Latino student movement demanding annexation of all southwestern states.

"This is the way we move forward," Schwarzenegger said at a Sacramento Press Club lunch Tuesday, according to the Riverside Press-Enterprise.

Despite opposition from many Republicans and a majority of Californians, the governor said he is confident of the outcome.

"It's one of those things that we'll all have to get together and see that this is a good idea and this is the way we move forward," Schwarzenegger said, according to the Riverside paper. "I'm talking with my Republican friends all the time about it and also with my Democratic friends. We will do it."

Cedillo's chief of staff, Dan Savage, said tentative agreement has been reached to grant driver licenses to all illegal immigrants, the Press-Enterprise reported. The licenses would look identical to those of other residents.

Savage said there were two sticking points in the earlier bill -- insurance requirements and verifying applicants' identities.

Republicans have demanded applicants be subject to background checks, but Savage said that has not been a main topic during the negotiations, according to the Press-Enterprise.

A co-author of the legislation repealing SB 60, Assemblyman John J. Benoit, R-Palm Desert, remains firmly opposed to the plan.

"To actually give a legal document to an illegal immigrant, I'm not there," Benoit told the Riverside paper.

But, Jesse Diaz, 39, a graduate student at UC Riverside and a member of the Mexican-American Political Foundation Backers, sees it as a practical move.

"There's definitely a need for it," said. "They're going to drive regardless. It's just now the rules will be safer. They're going to have insurance. There will be driver's training. It will be great."

Davis signed SB 60 in September after blocking a similar bill in 2002, raising charges he was pandering to Latinos before the recall vote.

In a statement after signing the repeal Dec. 3, Schwarzenegger said:"The swift bipartisan passage of this legislation is a perfect example of how the peoples' will can change politics-as-usual in Sacramento.

Benoit said President Bush's proposal to give illegal workers temporary status might change the debate. If the measure passes Congress, Republicans might be more receptive to giving driver licenses to people with temporary work permits, he suggested.

[skeeter]

Looks like the McClintock people were right.

Yeah, I wish there were some satisfaction in it.

So much as breathing a word in favor of legitimizing illegals needs to become a political kiss of death. We gotta raise h*ll every time it comes up.

[sweetliberty]

What a hypocrite.

[DiamondDon1]

Saber:

You did great on election day talking to Hugh. Previously I thought that Hugh had some kind of "conventional wisdom" that I just did not see. Here are a few of Hugh's less than accurate predictions:

If Michigan plays USC, they will crush them.

Dean will win Iowa.

Dean will be within 5 points of Kerry in N.H.

Arnold is the real deal...he will turn this State around.

The Browns will make it to the Superbowl (apparently as guests...)

Hugh is fun to listen to...but he is obviously not good for advise on how to vote or bet.

Hopefully next time I will cover your flank instead of running for cover.

DD

[NormsRevenge]

Thanks for acknowledging some of the Arnold supporters and laying credit where it is due.

I have tried to not become so entrhalled in attacks that the real mission of the forum could not be carried out, ie; informing the public and fellow voters and citizens of this state and this country as to those who work within our system to achieve their own ends and serve their own interests in the name of "the children".

The Recall created a unique opportunity for change,, yet was seized on by a few opportunists to try and enact and perpetuate their own misguided agendas.

We may never get another chance like the one we had stolen away from us to truly begin the process of reclaiming the Republic and Restoring sanity and morality to government in California. Well, not in this decade anyway.

[Uncle Hal]

I had a feeling Arnold made a deal with Democrats to get the legislature to repeal the illegal license bill. If a new bill gets through, we are going to have to go to the people and put a repeal of the new law on the ballot. This would kill it once and for all.

[randog]

In reference to my post #14: Is it the Sacramento drinking water that's turning Arnie into a liberal.

[Feiny]

Perhaps, but this should not be at the top of his list for things to do. We have a huge monetary crisis that needs to be dealt with and he is busy working with Cedillo on legalizing lawbreakers. Stinks as much as his acting.

[freekitty]

Lie, lie and lie. It's all about winning. Hmmmmm. The two seem to go together these days.

[South40]

Thanks ST...thanks for the thought but I feel I must correct you on one very important point.

I am not now, nor have I ever been an Arnold "supporter". You have never seen me rally an Arnold cry or urge anyone to vote for the man. What I've done from day one is defend my vote and I still do. I do so because he was the only one who could beat bustamechA. I'd like to have seen McClintock win as much as anyone here, I just knew it wasn't going to happen and why.

Thanks again.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

BOHICA.

[dmanLA]

Governor Arnold,

Just for contemplating on this silly legislation which should be laughed at than seriously considered, I will vote down your propositions as well as sign the petition to repeal this law AND/OR RECALL YOUR SORRY A$$!

[SierraWasp]

"Those right-wing nut McClintock supporters, who 'wasted their vote', are looking better every day."

That be ME!!! Because now... CA is sooooooo screwed!!!

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

George and Arnolds new vision for California: Illegal aliens with California-issued drivers licenses driving sub-standard Mexican trucks (forced on us by Nafta) transporting substandard and disease-ridden produce (forced on us by Nafta) and transporting other contraband (including more ilegal aliens and terrorists and their WMD's).

[Joe Hadenuf]

Glad I voted for McClintok. Now lets recall Schwarzenegger. I'll be fun to watch two political hacks go down in disgrace. Maybe someday these corrupt people that get involved in making careers as politicians will get it.

RECALL!

[Pubbie]

*Ping*!

[itsahoot]

I have a big problem with issuing the same kind of license as for legal residents,

Notice how easy it is to misdirect the argument, "the same kind, as opposed to none"

[faithincowboys]

Just in time for them to all vote in the Presidential election. The GOP will do itself in.

[Joe Hadenuf]

Schwarzenegger Ready To license Illegal Aliens (Driver's Licenses)

Isn't Schwarzenegger good friends with Bush?

[SierraWasp]

Good GRIEF!!! You could rationalize just about ANYTHING, couldn't you!!! Holy Toledo!!!

[GretchenEE]

I'm not saying Arnie is righteous, because I don't know the condition of his soul, but the principle remains:

Proverbs 25:26 A righteous man falling down before the wicked [or, in this case, before those who press unlawful ideas] is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.