November 14, 2007

Spitzer Pulls Driver ID Plan For Illegal Immigrants

New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer formally dropped his plan to issue driver's licenses to illegal workers, saying the problem is a federal responsibility that can't be covered by state or local governments.

His idea was "the consequence of the federal government's failure," he said during a news conference this morning. Spitzer spoke after a meeting with New York's congressional delegation, and yesterday his office told state lawmakers that he would abandon the plan.

Originally, Spitzer introduced the idea as a way to increase security and help immigrants "out of the shadows," but it quickly came under fire when skeptics asserted it could help potential terrorists slip through legal channels. During today's news conference, Spitzer also frowned about "turning a practical security measure into a political referendum" -- a reference to the negative attention the plan received after Hillary Rodham Clinton whiffed a question on it during the Democratic debate a few weeks ago, prompting her rivals on both sides to pounce.

Posted at 10:42 AM
Posted to: Immigration
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