Oct 19, 2007 6:26 pm US/Eastern
Spitzer Taking Heat Over Immigrant Driver Plan
Some Politicians Seem To Have It In For Governor
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
-
-
N.Y. Gov. Eliot Spitzer (file)
Michael Heiman/Getty Images
Should illegal immigrants be allowed to get drivers' licenses?
Ever since Gov. Eliot Spitzer signed an order allowing just that, the tide of criticism has grown.
Yet Friday, the governor refused to budge.
Stung by a fury of opposition, Spitzer came to New York University to fight for his embattled driver's license plan.
"Bringing 1 million people out of shadows and into the system will increase our chances of catching terrorists and criminals," Spitzer said.
It was a rebuke to critics of his plan to issue drivers' licenses to illegal immigrants. They've warned the policy would help terrorists obtain the crucial proof of identification.
Spitzer produced a written endorsement from Richard Clarke, the former White House counter-terrorism chief who's criticized his former boss, President Bush.
"It is far preferable for the state to know who is living in it and driving on its roads … than to have large numbers of people living in our cities whose identity is totally unknown to the government," Clarke said.
But the move to thwart Spitzer is gaining momentum. Recent polls show the overwhelming majority of New Yorkers oppose his plan. Criticism has also spread nationally.
On Friday he was blasted by Assembly Minority Leader James Tedesco. He claims Spitzer killed funding for health clinics in his district because of his opposition to the plan.
"This is truly governance by vengeance," Tedesco said.
He plans to introduce a bill to kill Spitzer's plan next week. There's also talk that the Republicans in the State Senate could hold up its funding.
Thanks to the "troopergate" scandal, Spitzer no longer has the political clout he used to, so an embarrassing setback on this issue is no longer out of the question.
Spitzer says he intends to start implementing the plan in December.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Click to enlarge
Schumer Said Public Option Can Pass Senate 30 mins ago 
Stumble It!
Comments