The House of Representatives passed the "Real ID Act" by a vote of 261-161. The bill includes requiring states to require that they only issue drivers licenses to U.S. Citizens and those in the country legally. It also includes greater restrictions on asylum closing loopholes that have allowed people to use asylum as a catch-all reason for coming to the US even though they are not being persecuted in their home country. Another part of the legislation ensures that drivers licenses issued to those here legally with papers have an expiration date that coincides with expiration of their legal status.
The bill still has to head through the Senate and be approved and then signed by the President before it is in affect.
One of the most surprising things about the voting results was that 42 Democrats also voted for the legislation and split from party lines to vote it through. 8 Republicans voted against the measure.
For a listing of who voted for and against the "REAL ID Act" head over here
Here are the traitorous Republicans who want to give drivers licenses to illegal aliens.
The list of traitorous Democrats is just too long...
The fact that any person in Congress could vote against a bill requiring that people who receive drivers licenses -- which are primary identification not only for driving, but boarding planes and opening bank accounts -- are US Citizens or here legally is disgusting.
KRT
Sensenbrenner, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, said his bill stemmed from the 9-11 Commission's conclusions that "abuse of the immigration system and a lack of interior enforcement were unwittingly working together to support terrorist activities."
Supporters repeatedly pointed out that the 9-11 hijackers easily obtained U.S. driver's licenses and other identification documents.
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The bill would particularly affect 11 states that don't require proof of legal status to obtain a driver's license: Hawaii, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Tennessee, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin. But it would force all states to adhere to federal eligibility standards for granting driver's licenses ...
Voice of America
In debate on the floor of the House of Representatives, Republicans such as Congressman J. D. Hayworth, argued that the attacks of September 11, 2001 provided indisputable reasons for passing the legislation.
"In the wake of September 11, in the wake of clear and demonstrable evidence that there are those who come to this nation with the intent of harming and killing Americans, who are bent on the destruction of our nation, and our system of government, at long last this body should take the steps necessary to preserve our security and our liberty," he said.
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Republican Congressman Pete Sessions offered an amendment aimed at ensuring that once someone is ordered deported, they are speedily returned to their home country. "Sadly, according to our government's best statistics, only 13 percent of the aliens arrested entering the country illegally and ordered deported, are actually removed," he said. "As a result, people entering the country illegally and with criminal or terrorist intent have quickly learned that if arrested they can be quickly released on their own word, and that they can be confident in the knowledge they do not have to show up for their hearing knowing they will likely never be deported."
Other Commentary:
The Tar Pit
Alpha Patriot
Flopping Aces
Numbers USA where you can tell your representative what you think of their vote.
I can think of a number of reasons why someone might vote against this without wanting states to give driver's licenses to illegal aliens. One is that they might think this sort of decision should remain at the state level. Many small government conservatives and libertarians think national security is one of the exceptions to the principle behind limited government, but many people don't consider illegal Mexican migrant workers to be an issue of national security in the way that terrorists largely from the Middle East are, and giving them a drivers license wouldn't help them accomplish their task but just make it easier to track them.
The most reasonable reason to oppose a bill like this is because it's just got some stupid things in it. Some people have temporary visas that they have to renew every year, e.g. students. Some have to return to their own country to do that. If they have to lapse their visa, then they'd have to get their driver's license all over again every time this happens, which is pretty stupid.
It's just plain not true that someone opposing a law opposes everything in it.
Posted by: Jeremy Pierce on February 12, 2005 05:12 AM
