Senate Democrats Still Refuse to Repeal Driver's Licenses to Illegals Policy in New Mexico

New Mexico crime rings operating in the illegal business of marketing the ease of obtaining a state driver’s license fraudulently, breathed a sigh of relief last night.

Instead of simply repealing a law on the books that allows licenses to be issued to people in the state illegally, a driver's license “compromise” bill passed the Democrat controlled Senate last night by a vote of 27-15.

John Arthur Smith of Deming was the only Democratic Senator to join Republicans in rejecting the complex alternative to a more simple approach that would simply repeal the practice of issuing driver’s licenses to people in the state illegally.

The so-called compromise bill includes somewhat tougher requirements for foreign nationals than what was proposed last year when Democrats also blocked repeal of the old law. This year’s non-repeal version of the dubious bill requires license renewal every year, fingerprints and increased penalties for those who knowingly provide false paperwork for foreign nationals.

In the end, the bill creates more administrative procedures for bureaucrats at the Department of Motor Vehicle offices which should slow service and create longer lines. However, the bill still leaves plenty of room for crime rings to game the system, which is what they were hoping for. The bill will be sent to the New Mexico House of Representatives that has already simply voted to repeal the old law. Governor Martinez called the process in the Senate a "sham" and suggested a veto would be forthcoming.

Senate Democrats Still Refuse to Repeal Driver's Licenses to Illegals Policy in New Mexico