Martinez: Repeal Of D.L. Law Is Bi-Partisan Compromise



Susana Martinez 

We received this piece Monday from the Republican Party of NM. It is regarding the driver's license issue. ALBUQUERQUE, NM — Democratic State Representative Bill O’Neill recently penned a self-serving opinion column in which he erroneously claimed Governor Susana Martinez was not working in a bi-partisan manner to repeal the law that gives driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants. While it’s noteworthy that Democrat politicians who opposed repeal are now trying to find a way to hedge their bets (after hearing from their constituents, no doubt), O’Neill has his facts wrong. O’NEILL FICTION: Martinez did not exhibit bi-partisanship with her approach to the driver’s license issue in the January legislative session.

Bill O'Neil

FACT: The original bill was sponsored by Democrat-turned-Independent Andy Nunez. That bill was then amended as part of a floor substitute compromise the Governor directly negotiated with Democrat legislators. The bi-partisan compromise allowed legal foreign nationals to obtain driver’s licenses, among other changes, and cleared the house by a 42 to 28 vote. It was the Democratic state Senator Michael Sanchez who killed the compromise in an entirely partisan vote in the state Senate.

O’NEILL FICTION: O’Neill: “[The Governor must demonstrate a] willingness to address the public safety concerns about having unlicensed, uninsured motorists on our highways, which was the purpose of the 2003 law in the first place. ...These are legitimate public safety concerns and deserve serious debate and consideration.”

FACT: Giving driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants has done nothing to lower our uninsured motorist rate. In fact, New Mexico still has the highest second highest rate of uninsured motorists in the country. (Insurance Research Council)
“Representative O’Neill is in a swing district and trying to trick his constituents into believing that he supports doing away with this dangerous law. But voters won’t be fooled — you’re either FOR giving driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants, or you’re AGAINST it,” said Bryan Watkins. “If Bill O’Neill wants to get out of the dog house with his constituents then he needs to only do one thing — join the 8 Democrats in the House and support Governor Martinez’s bi-partisan repeal bill.”

Martinez: Repeal Of D.L. Law Is Bi-Partisan Compromise