Revoke Spitzer's License to Legislate
By Congressman Paul Broun Posted in Eliot Spitzer | Immigration | Immigration — Comments (10) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
Governor Eliot Spitzer has recently decided to authorize thousands of illegal aliens to obtain driver's licenses in the state of New York. Amazingly, under Governor Spitzers new policy, beginning in 2008 applicants for drivers licenses will no longer be required to provide a Social Security card or to show legal status. Foreign passports, a previous state driver s license, and foreign birth certificates will all be considered acceptable proof of identification in New York.
Many states have recently added requirements to prevent illegal aliens and would-be terrorists from obtaining driver's licenses, as required under the REAL ID Act of 2005. Under this law, states are required to insist on a Social Security number in order to get a license by the end of 2009. Instead of making it harder to obtain a license, Governor Spitzer has chosen to ignore the REAL ID Act by reversing rules that New York had previously established requiring a Social Security card.
While Governor Spitzer's actions might score political points with the more than 500,000 illegal aliens in New York, his decision is a threat to national security. Many of the terrorists who committed the attacks on September 11th were here illegally and easily obtained driver's licenses and state IDs as identification. The licenses allowed the terrorists to open bank accounts and to blend in without raising suspicion. Potential terrorists will once again be able to easily obtain the documentation they need. It is inconceivable to me that the Governor of the state that saw the greatest loss of life on September 11th would make such a reckless decision.
Read on . . .
New York is set to become our nations magnet for illegal aliens unable to obtain driver's licenses elsewhere. Unfortunately, this will not be New Yorks problem alone. Illegal aliens will use these licenses throughout our nation and other states will be unable to determine who is here legally. Attempting to legitimize illegal aliens with official documentation is dangerous to my state of Georgia and our nation. The economic and social consequences of illegal immigration on our country are already immense and will only worsen if Governor Spitzers plan is enacted.
Governor Spitzer seems to miss the larger point: Driving in this country is a privilege, not a right. Our nation is guided by a set of principles and the rule of law, and we should not reward and legitimize illegal behavior while putting our national security at risk.
Spitzers actions directly undermine legislation that I, and many of my colleagues, are working to pass to secure our borders. Many of the enforcement mechanisms in our bills rely on the ability of state and local law enforcement agencies to identify and apprehend those who are here illegally. Spitzers actions add to the difficulties our law enforcement agents face.
The Spitzer plan is bad for New York and bad for the nation. All of us who care about preventing illegal immigration should oppose his efforts. If certain Presidential candidates in both parties wish to be taken seriously on the issue of illegal immigration, they should publicly condemn Spitzer's plan. Even if that means taking on their states Governor.
Congressman Paul Broun (R) represents the 10th District of Georgia. He currently sits on the House Homeland Security Committee. His official website can be accessed as http://broun.house.gov
I'm not familiar with the penalty provisions of REAL ID - what happens to states that don't meet the standards?
And is there any effort afoot, be it in Congress or in states like Georgia to give Spitzer an "incentive" to do the right thing?
I have heard some advocate having other states not permit NY licenses to be used as valid ID in their states. I suppose there could be trouble with that prior to the 2009 REAL ID deadline under Full Faith and Credit principles, but it would seem secure identification is a strong public policy of any state and so would allow you to not provide it here.
As a holder of a NY license, such a move would surely be a nuisance - but I have a passport, so it's not as if I'd have major problems. I think it would also give the ordinary citizen NYer a real reason to speak out against the Governor.
I just hope that Republican legislators and candidates in NY are doing everything they can to draw attention to this and to leverage the already growing discontent (especially in the NYC suburbs) to bring the Party back from the dead.
Spitzer is free to be almost as stupid as he wishes to be within the confines of his own state.
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Diplomacy is the art of saying 'Nice doggie' until you can find a rock.
I've never really understood why some insist that the states use a driver's license as an official state ID card. Why shouldn't a state be able to determine who is able to receive a driver's license.
Of course, don't complain when that NY driver's license loses its meaning, in that it's not proof of citizenship (or perhaps even residency). All it means is that you are the guy on the card and that NY believes you can drive.
But then the whole issue of using a drivers license as a valid form of ID for air travel is thrown in question. Indeed if Spitzer's notion is passed all New Yorkers will need a passport just to fly to a saner state. Think god I've had mine...I think they'll be another rush at the post office for those!
Fortunately it seems most of the DOT clerks have stated they'll not issue licenses to those without legitimate documents of residency so if it does pass it looks like we'll see some good old fashioned civil disobedience. It certainly has little support among the citizenry here.
Get a license, register to vote [PDF] in New York.
Your identity can be verified through your DMV number (driver's license number or non-driver ID number), or the last four digits of your social security number, as requested on Box 9 of this application.
Of course, you may be fined up to $5,000 if you claim to be a US citizen, but aren't.
But even if voting irregularities are detected, they're never resolved until months after the election (fraudulent or not) is long since decided!
You would think that state legislature could pass a law, right?
-- A true evolutionist would let endangered species die off. Anyone care to change sides?
-- I see abortion as a pro-choice issue... the baby's choice would be life. Like yours was.
-- imwithfred --
What the hell is Gov. Spitzer thinking?
How dare here allow people WHO ARE Not even citizens of this great nation of ours to obtain Drivers licenses. This will only pave the way for future terrorists attacks. We have enough problems for OUR own citizens for our government to handle, and we are about those who are not. Granted many of these people are decent working people, but if Americans go to to other countries they cannot assume that they will have the rights of all the regular citizens in that particular country. Spitzer is catering to an 'illegal' crowd so to speak. In addition this will pave they way for them to get certain services allowed by NYS and the federal government, taking away from AMERICAN citizens that truly need them. I have nothing against immigrants, but if they want this stuff so badly and become citizens, then they should go thru the 'legal' process. Finally, under this policy if Osama Bin Laden or the leader of Iran want a NY drivers license, they would be able to get one. Then what, so they can drive a car into the Empire State with a nuke? It will only enhance terrorism, not curtail it. NY was attacked once, with Spitzer in office we will be attacked again. NYers should take a pre-emptive strike and demand that our lawmakers impeach that idiot up in Albany.
We have to be the only country on the globe to even be considering something like this. It is just irrational. We gotta be close to becoming the laughing stock at the UN and around the world when they read this type of politically incorrect nonsense.
It's scary that governors propose this. It is even scarier that anyone proposing this crap isn't immediately overrun and chased out of office by a mob.
Ask not what I can do for my country, ask what my country can do for me. Washington Elected Elite
about that HR 25... How's that goin?
Jim Tomasik
Broun has hit the nail on the head.
It never ceases to amaze me how certain policy makers continue to make it easier for terrorists and illegal aliens to get benefits.