Tuesday, April 6, 2004

Jeb Emulates Gray Davis

From the Miami Herald:

TALLAHASSEE – Saying rigorous screening standards would ensure recipients ”won’t be terrorists,” Gov. Jeb Bush on Monday strongly endorsed issuing state driver’s licenses to both illegal immigrants and foreign nationals who make Florida home for part of the year.

Hundreds of thousands of people could be affected by the proposal, which is currently making its way through the Florida Legislature. Sen. Rudy Garcia, a Hialeah Republican pushing the measure in the Senate, says it would enable those stuck in immigration limbo to drive with valid licenses and get insurance while they work to become citizens.

”Our roads and streets will be safer because of this,” Garcia said, adding that the sprawling nature of most Florida cities makes owning a car a necessity, and that the state, by not giving illegal immigrants licenses, “almost tells these folks to break the law, because that’s the only way they’re going to be doing anything.”

Illegal immigrants wishing to obtain the licenses would have to submit to be cleared by background checks both in Florida and in their home countries. The state would rely on consular officials to sign off on background checks from abroad.

Foreign nationals who visit the state frequently to check up on homes or businesses would have to provide proof of ownership.

The driver’s license question presents lawmakers with a potentially volatile election-year issue, one that could woo Hispanic voters but is also credited with helping defeat former California Gov. Gray Davis during last year’s recall election.

Perhaps if they applied the same “rigorous screening standards” to every driver’s license applicant in Florida, we wouldn’t be rated the second-worst state behind Massachusetts for aggressive and just plain lousy driving in the country. (Massachusetts has an excuse – it’s a very small state and it’s crowded up there.)