A DEAL WITH THE DEVIL

Assembly Oks Bill Allowing Illegals To Get Drivers' Licenses (KTXL/Fox40, 9/2/2003)

... The legislation, by Sen. Gil Cedillo, D-Los Angeles, would help undocumented immigrants get drivers' licenses by allowing them to submit a federal taxpayer identification number or some other state-approved form of identification to the Department of Motor Vehicles instead of a Social Security number.

The U.S. Internal Revenue Service issues taxpayer identification numbers to tax filers who cannot qualify for Social Security numbers, which authorize a person to work legally in the United States.

Davis has vetoed two similar bills since he became governor, citing law enforcement's concerns about the legislation. After he vetoed the bill last year, the Legislature's Latino caucus refused to endorse him for re-election.

Last month, at an anti-recall rally in Los Angeles, the governor said he would sign the latest bill "in a heartbeat" if it reached his desk.

But it's not the blatant ploy for the taxes and the votes that's so laughable ....

[...] But Democrats said up to 2 million illegal immigrants are driving without proper licenses already and that someone who wants to obtain a fake drivers' license can get one now on big-city street corners.

Cedillo's bill, they said, would improve public safety by helping ensure that all drivers pass a driving exam and have insurance.

It's the ridiculous notion that, by simply changing the rules, people who are already perfectly content breaking the law will suddenly be compelled to pay more money in fees and insurance to comport with it. Posted by John Resnick at September 3, 2003 8:19 PM