Posted on 09/04/2003 1:37:00 PM PDT by DesertGOP
Thanks to the same out-of-touch Democrats that Golden State voters continue to reelect year after year, the California State legislature has passed a bill that would allow illegal immigrants to obtain California driver’s licenses. Now, it sits on the Governor’s desk—where he can sign it into law, veto it outright, or do nothing at all and allow it to become a full-fledged statute on its own. I have a suggestion—while they’re at it, perhaps these same elected officials in Sacramento can vote to erect signs at state borders and airports that say: “Welcome, criminals and terrorists!”
Senate Bill 60 author Sen. Gil Cedillo, D-Los Angeles, argues that the bill is good for California because it will “restore highway safety.” Licensed drivers are more likely to get insurance, he claims. New drivers will have to know the rules, pass the test and give their addresses. That’s good for public safety...right?
Well, at best, it’s only partially correct in theory, but completely off the mark in practice. What Senator Cedillo fails to mention is that SB 60 prohibits the Department of Motor Vehicles from checking to see if California’s newest drivers were ever convicted of murder or other violent crimes. It also would make it illegal—there’s that word “illegal” again—for the DMV to share fingerprints with American law enforcement agencies—unless there’s a warrant for a specific individual for a special offense.
Come on, folks, let’s be honest here: this bill has nothing to do with highway safety, but, rather, everything to do with a growing number of politicians up north pandering to a powerfully influential Hispanic state caucus—whom many of its more radical disciples would like nothing more than to one day see California reclaimed as “Mex-ifornia.” It’s all about race-baiting and state representatives distancing themselves as much as possible from any anti-Mexican, anti-Hispanic, anti-Latino public image—misguided or otherwise.
Before the first successful recall certification of a California governor was a done deal, Davis, himself, rejected similar bills. Last September, if you remember, as the embattled governor was running for reelection, he wrote in a veto message that similar legislation wrongly failed to require proof that applicants had jobs and outrageously did not allow authorities to exclude applicants with outstanding warrants for violent or serious crimes. He noted that “a driver’s license was in the hands of terrorists who attacked America” on Sept. 11. Rightfully so, Gov. Davis was applauded for his decision.
Apparently, his Grayness has a new definition for terror: the recall.
Davis recently promised to sign SB 60—and he didn’t insist that this bill address his 2002 concerns. Maybe my “compassionate conservatism” is all worn out from being trampled upon as of late, but why should people who break our laws receive driver’s licenses? Let's quit rewarding illegal immigration.
The argument that illegal immigrants will be safer drivers is bogus; an attempt to turn illegal immigration into a public safety issue. No evidence exists that if illegal immigrants receive driver’s licenses, they enroll in driver education programs, obtain insurance, or not flee from accidents. A lawbreaker will not wait at an accident site for the police. After all, these are the same “undocumented workers” (so as to remain as politically-correct as possible) who thought nothing of breaking the law in the first place to get here; what makes you think they’ll all of a sudden become (just like) model citizens at this stage of the game?
Abundant evidence exists of illegal aliens using easily available forged documents. Driver’s licenses are used not only to identify drivers, but to establish identity for voting, benefit eligibility, employment, and credit—not to mention for also obtaining permits for firearms—i.e., guns, rifles and the like. When licenses are secured by false identities, more than driving status is affected—it opens a "Pandora’s Box" for more fraud.
Pardon me for mentioning the P word—"principle"—but lawmakers ought not to pass laws that reward people who break the law. It shows a blatant disrespect for immigrants who stood in line and recognized the rules. It shows a disrespect for the law itself.
Creating loopholes around immigration laws is discrimination in favor of illegal immigrants and, in this case, shamefully plays the race card, albeit of a different shade this time around. Such absurdity continues to chip away at the rule of law in the United States. There's something wrong with this picture.
Either American citizenship, and the privileges thereof, means something or it doesn’t. You can’t have it both ways. Otherwise, those who sacrificed their lives in defending our nation’s sovereignty died in vain. Then, what do we say to the surviving families of those who lost their lives nearly two years ago in the devastating storm of events on September 11, perpetuated by terrorists who used driver’s licenses to help carry out their plot?
Cutting through the lard: We are either a land of just laws or we are not.
Not if, but WHEN Davis signs SB 60 into law, our only recourse as law-abiding residents is too launch a citizens-led referendum to place the issue onto a special ballot; then, we will have the opportunity to right the wrong of issuing driver’s licenses to illegal aliens, and begin the tedious, but worthy, process of upsizing a capsized ship of topsy-turvy legislation at the State Capitol.
Forgive me if I went off on the "deep-end" a bit here, but I just can't take all this legislation run amok in a Golden State that has, surely, lots its luster. Yeah, yeah, I realize it's not up there with a "Christopher Hithcens" or someone like that, but what do you expect from just an ordinary hardworking, traditional family-values supporter, faithful husband, protective father, and full-time worker in Corporate America....paying--with MY taxes--for others to sit around on their duffs and do nothing else all day but lobby Sacramento long and hard enough to their agenda addressed and passed?
If Davis also signs AB 458, then we'll have no doubt that he's definitely selling the state out and taking as many of us down with him as he can. He's toast come Oct. 7--it just remains to be seen what state he leaves the state in the day we say, "Hasta la vista, baby!"
Frustrated in Victorville, Calif.
And I don't think that your reactions to this are zealous enough. Personally, I am livid over this. I'm afraid that if I call Davis' office to speak my piece, I risk being arrested for threatening the life of a public official.
I never noticed it before! Guess what, the new bill is going to remove this. Now, one might ask why?
The Council of Insurance has also reported that statistically Hispanic's are the least likely, percentage wise (close to 80%), to carry automobile insurance. And these are not illegals but citizens of the United States. I got fined 4 years ago for driving without insurance and that's when they'd established the fine at $1,200. They actually, set up a separate line at municipal court for those paying the fine and the limited census which I took of the racial/ethnic make up of the people waiting in line was probably easily 90% Hispanic!
I haven't been able to get through to either number yet. I believe that both offices close at 5 P.M. so I'll try again tomorrow.
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