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California Repeals Licenses for Illegal Immigrants
Sanity returns - Only because of Arnoldâs electionThe California Assembly voted to repeal a law Monday allowing undocumented immigrants to get driverâs licenses, setting the stage for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to fulfill a key campaign pledge just two weeks after taking office. Facing widespread public opposition and a threatened March ballot initiative to kill the law, the Assembly voted 64-9 to overturn what it passed only three months ago. The Senate took similar action on Nov. 24 with a 33-0 vote. The measure now goes to Schwarzenegger, who was expected to quickly sign the bill. The law, which had been set to go into effect Jan. 1, would have let an estimated 2 million illegal immigrant motorists apply for driverâs licenses with taxpayer identification numbers instead of Social Security numbers. Passed in September and signed by former Gov. Gray Davis, the law aimed to end a 10-year ban on driverâs licenses for Californiaâs undocumented immigrants, most from Mexico and Central America. Before being elected in the Oct. 7 recall election against Davis, Schwarzenegger promised to repeal the law within his first 100 days. Immediately after being inaugurated, he called the Legislature into special session to consider it. The new Republican governor, an immigrant himself, repeatedly criticized the law as the "wrong way" to handle the issue. He has promised to help legislators craft a new law with more security measures and background checks for applicants. Posted by: Frank G 2003-12-02 |
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