Davis backs license bill - To get Latino Support..

MKSheppard · Post by **MKSheppard** » 2003-07-30 07:48pm

http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/ ... 1032c.html

Davis backs license bill
Some see the endorsement as a play for Latino voters' support.

By Aurelio Rojas -- Bee Staff Writer

Gov. Gray Davis is vowing to sign legislation that would allow illegal immigrants to obtain driver's licenses -- a move that could energize Latinos to oppose his recall but anger other voters.

"You put that bill on my desk, and I will sign it in a heartbeat," Davis declared at a labor union barbecue in Los Angeles on Saturday.

The pledge, which Davis repeated in Fresno at the weekend Mexican American Political Association's convention, was met with thunderous approval by the largely Latino audiences.

But pro-recall leaders accuse Davis, who vetoed a narrower driver's license bill last year, of putting politics ahead of policy concerns.

"He's doing everything he can to pander to special interests, and I suspect we will see a reversal on a number of policy issues in the coming months," said Chris Wysocki, a spokesman for Rescue California.

The license measure -- SB 60 -- is now on a fast track and could be sent to the Democratic governor soon after the Senate returns from its recess Aug. 18, according to its author, Sen. Gil Cedillo, D-Los Angeles.

Davis' veto of a version of the current bill cost him the backing of the 24-member Democratic Latino Caucus during his re-election campaign.

As recall threats mounted this year, two core constituencies -- labor and Latino lawmakers -- joined ranks to urge him to reconsider.

The bill was broadened to provide licenses to more immigrants, as union leaders argued that getting workers to their jobs is critical to the state's economy.

Davis spokesman Steve Maviglio denied the governor is pandering to Latino voters. He said proponents have been working to address security issues raised by Davis in last year's veto message as a result of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Davis said then that he wanted immigrants who obtain driver's licenses to clear criminal background checks, language the current bill doesn't yet provide.

"If you look at his remarks over the past four months, he has said, 'I want to sign this bill, I intend to sign this bill,' and so now we're just getting down to the nitty-gritty," Maviglio said.

Cedillo on Monday defended his measure as "sound public policy." The East Los Angeles Democrat contends it would not only make roads safer for California motorists but improve national security.

"This is not immigration policy; this is highway safety policy," Cedillo said. "I don't anticipate a (voter) backlash because at the end of the day, if they're concerned about national security, we address those concerns."

Under the measure, illegal immigrants who apply for licenses would have their photos taken and thumbprints recorded along with their physical description and address.

They also would have to submit proof of their identity and insurance, pass the driving and written tests, and comply with all other licensing requirements.

The measure is far more inclusive than the driver's license bill Davis vetoed last year.

Under last year's bill, illegal immigrants would have qualified for licenses only if they first applied for legal residency from immigration officials, had been screened by a criminal background check, and could show they worked at least 15 months in California.

That measure was opposed by labor groups on grounds it was too restrictive. This year's bill has support from a broader base of groups, including unions, the insurance industry and some business leaders and law enforcement officials.

By signing the measure, Davis would be extending an olive branch to the state's burgeoning Latino electorate.

Eighty percent of Latino voters supported Davis in 1998, but a large number sat out his re-election last year after the governor vetoed the driver's license bill.

Polls show a majority of Latino voters support the recall, but by a smaller margin than non-Latinos.

As he fights for his political life, Davis has retreated to his base and defined the recall race as a stark choice between what he says is his progressive agenda and a conservative one.

In keeping with that strategy, Democratic leaders in Latino communities contend the same conservative forces that put Proposition 187 in place are backing the recall. The 1994 measure sought to deny illegal immigrants public services but was largely gutted by the courts.

Latino recall opponents also are invoking the memory of the disputed 2000 presidential election in Florida.

"Clearly, California is a Democratic state, and we don't want (the 2002 gubernatorial) election stolen by people who don't reflect the mainstream of California," Cedillo said.

Pablo Curiel, a board member of the Mexican American Political Association, said Davis struck a responsive chord when told the group he would sign the license bill.

"It can't hurt him, if he wants our support," Curiel said.

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Die Die Die! Death to the ursurpers of American Democracy![/i]

Howedar · Post by **Howedar** » 2003-07-30 07:50pm

FUCK HIM!

Illuminatus Primus · Post by **Illuminatus Primus** » 2003-07-30 08:06pm

Fuck you Davis. You don't give a fuck about Latinos.

HemlockGrey · Post by **HemlockGrey** » 2003-07-30 08:19pm

That has got to be the stupidest damn bill I heard of recently.

Wicked Pilot · Post by **Wicked Pilot** » 2003-07-30 08:22pm

Silly Democrats, tricks are for kids.

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2003-07-30 08:27pm

....Put his ass in front of my foot and I'll kick it hard enough that he'll skip a heartbeat. This law is stupid as hell.

CaptainChewbacca · Post by **CaptainChewbacca** » 2003-07-30 08:42pm

Now, I live in California, I actually read the article in my copy of the Sacramento Bee, but I see a pretty big hole in this plan.

We're giving liscences to illegal immigrants so they can drive. When they go and apply for one and check the box marked "illegal immigrant", why won't they get deported?

It seems like a trap to me.

Wicked Pilot · Post by **Wicked Pilot** » 2003-07-30 08:45pm

CaptainChewbacca wrote:It seems like a trap to me.

I don't think a trap like that would put even a small dent in the illegal immigration population in California. The much simpliar explaniation of political whoring is the most probably answer.

Crayz9000 · Post by **Crayz9000** » 2003-07-30 09:10pm

It's just a stupid plan, period. As it is, if an illegal is driving (and does something stupid) when the cop pulls them over that's the end of the road for them. Which probably explains all the chases.

Issuing driver's licenses is not going to fix anything, because it's likely that a lot of illegals won't want to have anything identifying them.

apocolypse · Post by **apocolypse** » 2003-07-30 09:19pm

Fuck Davis, I'm voting his ass out of office. I used to be pretty much Democrat, but Davis and the seemingly democrat indifference to illegals has pissed me off to no end.

Why the hell are illegals getting liscenses when they aren't supposed to be here in the first place? I wish they'd spend as much time plugging the holes in the border as they do kissing ass..... /rant

Bob McDob · Post by **Bob McDob** » 2003-07-30 10:58pm

Well, Davis certainly achieved his aims.

The Duchess of Zeon · Post by **The Duchess of Zeon** » 2003-07-31 02:18am

Hell, why don't we just give California back to Mexico with that idiot as governor?

TrailerParkJawa · Post by **TrailerParkJawa** » 2003-07-31 02:26am

Just another fucking stupid law. Im thinking of sending an email to my representatives and Davis saying anyone that votes for this will not get my vote. ILLEGALS SHOULD NOT BE HERE !

HemlockGrey · Post by **HemlockGrey** » 2003-07-31 02:23pm

So he's trying to upgrade them to semi-legal? Aside from political whoring, what will this accomplish?

Crayz9000 · Post by **Crayz9000** » 2003-07-31 02:52pm

Not much that I can think of. It's certainly not going to improve the amount of traffic collisions we have here, since even the drivers who have licenses are frankly horrible.

otter · Post by **otter** » 2003-07-31 04:14pm

I guess supporting a few million illegals is better than winning the support of TENS OF MILLIONS of legal citizens. Another thing, if your an illegal, you cant vote, right?!?

Then again, I don't expect politicians to ever do whats right most of the time

TrailerParkJawa · Post by **TrailerParkJawa** » 2003-07-31 04:49pm

HemlockGrey wrote:So he's trying to upgrade them to semi-legal? Aside from political whoring, what will this accomplish?

There is a large groups of legal residents who advocate for illegals. Also, he is hoping to get the hispanic vote on his side.

Hamel · Post by **Hamel** » 2003-07-31 06:52pm

I used to feel bad for Davis back when the power companies engineered the blackout crisis, with Bush turning his eyes away as revenge for California not supporting him in 2000. No longer.

Now he wants to give illegals MORE incentive to move into the country. Fuck him.

MKSheppard · Post by **MKSheppard** » 2003-07-31 07:52pm

Hamel wrote: Now he wants to give illegals MORE incentive to move into the country. Fuck him.

What the Hell?!?! Hamel saying that Gray Davis should be recalled?!?1?

*falls over from a heart attack*

Darth Fanboy · Post by **Darth Fanboy** » 2003-07-31 08:03pm

The Duchess of Zeon wrote:Hell, why don't we just give California back to Mexico with that idiot as governor?

Because with the budget problems California is a huge asset. The Military Bases in So Cal, the fact theat the state by itself has one of the largest economies in the world, and Im sure the income taxes of fifty million people provide a little something to the Federal government.

Davis has to go, this bill to get Latino support but I hate to ask, how many of these people who lend support to Davis because of this are going to get out and vote in a special election? how many people who support this are actually registered eligible voters in the state?

And for the "trap" thing, the person applying would probably check a box that says "Non US Resident", give little or no information regarding residence, and yadda yadda, Its fucking stupid. There are laws on the books for a reason, not so that the governor can grant exemptions whenever he is facing a recall.

Stormbringer · Post by **Stormbringer** » 2003-07-31 11:54pm

I don't see how this can be called anything other than a desperate attempt to buy votes. Why the fuck should they be allowed the priviliges of citizens and legal residents instead of a boot across the border? It's bullshit and the last thing California needs to do is increase the incentive for illegal immigrants or add to the burden they put on the system.

Hopefully Davis will be recalled soon enough. Fucker's made a big enough mess already.

HemlockGrey · Post by **HemlockGrey** » 2003-08-01 12:36am

There is a large groups of legal residents who advocate for illegals. Also, he is hoping to get the hispanic vote on his side.

I'm fairly certain that falls under the rather broad category of 'political whoring'.

TrailerParkJawa · Post by **TrailerParkJawa** » 2003-08-01 02:31am

HemlockGrey wrote:
There is a large groups of legal residents who advocate for illegals. Also, he is hoping to get the hispanic vote on his side.
I'm fairly certain that falls under the rather broad category of 'political whoring'.

It will be interesting to see what the papers say about this tomorrow. I didnt catch local news today on tv. The problem I see with Davis, is he is responding to the recall in typical Davis fashion. Smear, smear, and more smear. Adding 'political whoring' to mix will only make it more likely that another Democrat will step in to run against him, sealing his fate.