ABQ Journal: The Democratic-controlled Senate sent a message to Gov. Susana Martinez late tonight, voting 27-15 in favor of a measure that calls for stricter fraud safeguards for illegal immigrant driver’s license applications.
Unlike the Martinez-backed legislation that passed the House of Representatives by a 45-25 vote last week, the Senate bill would not repeal the 2003 law that allows foreign nationals to obtain New Mexico licenses regardless of their immigration status.
Senate Bill 235 (click here to see it), would require immigrants with driver’s licenses to renew their licenses yearly, would toughen penalties for those committing fraud and would impose more stringent residency requirements. The bill would also require immigrants applying for a license to submit to fingerprinting.
Tonight’s 27-15 vote largely broke down along party lines. Just one Democrat, Sen. John Arthur Smith, D-Deming, voted against the legislation. All Senate Republicans voted in opposition.
At this point, it looks like both chambers have spoken. The Legislature does not adjourn until Thursday at noon, but it appears unlikely that either the House or Senate would approve the measures passed in the opposite chamber.
Unlike the Martinez-backed legislation that passed the House of Representatives by a 45-25 vote last week, the Senate bill would not repeal the 2003 law that allows foreign nationals to obtain New Mexico licenses regardless of their immigration status.
Senate Bill 235 (click here to see it), would require immigrants with driver’s licenses to renew their licenses yearly, would toughen penalties for those committing fraud and would impose more stringent residency requirements. The bill would also require immigrants applying for a license to submit to fingerprinting.
Tonight’s 27-15 vote largely broke down along party lines. Just one Democrat, Sen. John Arthur Smith, D-Deming, voted against the legislation. All Senate Republicans voted in opposition.
At this point, it looks like both chambers have spoken. The Legislature does not adjourn until Thursday at noon, but it appears unlikely that either the House or Senate would approve the measures passed in the opposite chamber.
No comments:
Post a Comment