La Palabra (originally aired March 9, 2005)
While campaigning in California, Rep. Matt Santos risks losing a key endorsement when he refuses to oppose publicly a state bill that would deny illegal immigrants the opportunity to obtain driver's licenses (1). Faced with a report that his campaign won't have funds to continue unless Santos does well in California, Santos and Josh debate strategy and Santos plans to mortgage his house for additional funds to keep the campaign going until the Texas primary. The campaign landscape is changed in Santos' favor after former Vice President Hoynes drops out amidst a sex scandal.
- The Santos' decision to mortgage their home if necessary is reminiscent of Sen. John Kerry's plans in late 2003 to loan his campaign $6 million by mortgaging his share of the family home. Of the Democratic presidential candidates, Kerry initially did the best in fund-raising but fell behind Howard Dean over the course of the year. Kerry raised $9 million in the final half of 2003, compared to Dean, who raised $31 million.
(back to top)
Illegal Immigrants and Driver's Licenses (last updated March 10, 2005) (back to top)
In this episode, a bill that would deny illegal immigrants the opportunity to obtain driver's licenses in California becomes an important issue right before the state's primary. Vice President Russell supports the bill because of security concerns, though Rep. Matt Santos privately opposes the bill because he feels that it does little to address security concerns while making life difficult for people working and living, though illegally, in the United States.
In fact, such a bill was enacted more than a decade ago. California currently does not allow illegal immigrants to obtain driver's licenses, though it did so for several decades up until 1993 and it has seen several political battles in recent years over the issue.
Such debates recently have involved security concerns, with many noting that a driver's license can be a useful tool for terrorists such as the hijackers involved in the September 11, 2001 attacks. The 9/11 Commission noted in its report that all but one of the 9/11 hijackers acquired some form of U.S. identification document, sometimes by fraud, and recommended that the federal government set standards for identification documents such as driver's licenses. Both Governor Gray Davis, a Democrat, and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Republican who replaced Davis, have invoked security concerns in vetoing legislation that would have allowed illegal immigrants to obtain driver's licenses.
The California legislature passed legislation in 2002, 2003 and 2004 that would have allowed some illegal immigrants to obtain driver's licenses, but none became effective. Davis vetoed the 2002 legislation, saying that the legislation did not contain sufficient security measures (message on-line here). Davis then signed the 2003 legislation into law, shortly before a special statewide election to determine whether he should stay in office and who, if anyone, should replace him. In late 2003, after Davis had lost the recall election, Schwarzenegger signed into law a bill that repealed the 2003 legislation before it went into effect.
In 2004, the California legislature again passed legislation (AB2895) that would enable illegal immigrants to obtain driver's licenses. Schwarzenegger vetoed this bill, saying that it "does not adequately address the security concerns that my Department of Homeland Security and I have and I cannot support it" (message on-line here).
Each state has its own methods and requirements for an applicant to obtain a driver's license. Illegal immigrants are effectively prevented from obtaining driver's licenses legally in 40 states and in the District of Columbia through requirements that they prove that they are lawfully present in the United States. The map below depicts states that require proof of lawful presence as of early 2005, based on information collected by the National Immigration Law Center, on-line here. States in red require applicants to prove lawful presence, and states in blue do not. Alaska requires lawful presence, and Hawaii does not.
The Immigration and Naturalization Service were an estimated 7.0 million illegal immigrants in the United States as of January 2000, according to the U.S. Customs and Immigrations Services, coming mostly from Mexico (69%) and concentrated in California (31%).
Sources: Information on the various bills considered in California (AB60 and SB804 in the 2001-02 session, SB60 in the 2003-04 session, SB1 in late 2003, and AB2895 in the 2003-04 session) can be found on-line here. Governor Gray Davis's September 30, 2002 veto message is on-line here and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's September 22, 2004 veto message is on-line here. The National Immigration Law Center is on-line here. The Department of Homeland Security has information about illegal immigrants on-line here, including the Estimates chapter of the 2002 Yearbook of Immigration Services.
(back to top)
|
|
|
Home / Calendar
The West Wing
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
The Colbert Report
Saturday Night Live
Commander in Chief
Law & Order
*
Issues
Resources
Site FAQ
Search via Google
Ripped from the Headlines?
West Wing: Santos discusses a lawsuit about intelligent design
West Wing: Electoral map as of the 10/9 episode; Santos needs to catch up big-time
SNL: The Miers nomination
South Park: Inspired by Katrina
Boston Legal: End to assault-weapons ban
Daily Show: A 2004 study found that 21 percent of young people regularly get their campaign news from comedy shows like the Daily Show with Jon Stewart and Saturday Night Live. So, some footnotes.
NOTE: All photos are copyright their respective owners.
| |
|
DISCLAIMER. The materials contained in this website have been prepared by Stephen Lee ("Author") for informational purposes only and do not contain or constitute legal advice. These materials may not reflect the most current legal developments, verdicts or settlements.
Furthermore, this information should in no way be taken as an indication of future results. Reading this website is not intended to create, and your receipt and/or use of the information contained herein, does not constitute an attorney/client relationship. You should not act upon this information without seeking professional counsel. Reproduction, distribution or republication of material contained within this website is prohibited unless the prior permission of Author has been obtained.
(C) Copyright 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 Stephen Lee. All rights reserved. Newsaic and FootnoteTV are registered service marks of Stephen Lee. Mirror Law and Footnote Comics are service marks of Stephen Lee. More information available here. Comments or suggestions to the Site Editor.
|
|
|
By Stephen Lee
| |
