Lawmaker says driver's license repeal unlikely in 2012
Posted at: 02/03/2012 10:41 PM
| Updated at: 02/05/2012 2:03 PM
By: Eddie Garcia, KOB Eyewitness News 4
 Rep. Brian Egolf |
Governor Susana Martinez scored a victory Friday in her fight to ban illegal immigrants from obtaining driver’s licenses in New Mexico.
The state House Judiciary Committee passed the original version of the bill introduced by Rep. Andy Nunez (Dona Ana), and supported by the governor.
H.B. 103, which would repeal the law that allows undocumented immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses, passed the committee by a 9-6 vote.
It will now go to the floor for a full vote where House representatives will decide on a repeal of the law for the second consecutive year.
In 2011, the House passed an identical bill, but it died in the state Senate.
The House has a slim partisan divide – 36 Democrats, 33 Republicans and 1 unaffiliated – and two Democrats voted for the repeal in today’s committee.
Rep. Brian Egolf (D-Santa Fe) said the proposal is a bad idea – especially in the Senate where Democrats outnumber Republicans, 28-14.
"The bill that passed out of this committee today is not going to pass the legislature," said Egolf.
Across the aisle, Rep. Bill Rehm (R-Bernalillo) admits passing the bill is going to be tough.
"It's very similar to what was sent over to the Senate last year and amended by the Senate and ultimately did not pass, so I see that as kind of the same avenue that could occur this year," said Rehm
Egolf said its a shame lawmakers did not go with the alternative bill that would offer serious restrictions on licenses, but not ban them.
"That I think should be a great disappointment to everyone in New Mexico who cares about driver’s license fraud and abuse because it's going to continue, and unfortunately the governor is not willing to discuss real solutions to the problem," said Egolf.
Rehm agrees there are other problems that need to be solved.
"I think the first thing we have to do is honor the request of our constituents and that is the revocation," said Rehm. “I think after that occurs, then we can go ahead and have a discussion about how we would handle those who are driving on the streets without a license.”
Some lawmakers said the only way a meaningful driver’s license law can pass is if immigration laws change at the federal level.
They said only then can both parties find enough common ground to get something done.
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