I wish I knew what the reaction to my written testimony of yesterday was (probably a hearty laugh from Democrats who had no plans to change their mind and vote for this common-sense bill), but I did get more on the fight from the Maryland Republican Party and specifically lead bill sponsor Delegate Ron George:
House Republicans today called for passage of the bipartisan Proof of Legal Presence Act of 2008. The bill, HB 288 is being heard in the House Judiciary Committee this afternoon.
“Maryland is the only state in the union that has not moved forward to require proof of legal presence before it issues a driver’s license,” said Delegate Ron George, the lead sponsor on the bill. “Currently, the MVA processes 2,000 out-of-country applicants each week – that is an increase from 1,054 per month only a year ago,” said Delegate George. “That is a 660% increase in only one year. At that rate of increase, next year that number will jump to 8,000 licenses per week or 32,000 per month.”
As drafted, HB288 prohibits the Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) from issuing an identification card, driver’s license, etc. to an individual born on or after December 1, 1964 who cannot provide acceptable documentation certifying citizenship or lawful presence in the United States. Starting December 1, 2017, the prohibition applies to anyone, regardless of age. The bill also allows the MVA to issue such a license or permit to an individual who is lawfully present but who is not a citizen provided that the license, identification card, or permit is effective only for as long as the individual is authorized to remain in the United States under federal law.
“The flaws in our driver’s licensing system make Maryland a magnet for anyone coming to this country illegally and present a huge risk to our citizens,” said Delegate George. “First and foremost it is a security threat, particularly given Maryland’s close proximity to Washington D.C.”
These are more compelling reasons to favor this bill, but I do question whether the rate of increase Delegate George cites would continue and mushroom to 8,000 per week in one year’s time. On the other hand, if Maryland continues to cement a reputation as the promised land for illegals trying to legitimize themselves, that flood of license applicants may well become a reality to the detriment of our state.
While that may not bother the Chamber of Commerce types who want a lot of cheap labor to do their menial tasks, they need to be careful what they wish for as the rest of us struggle with the crime and increased tax burden that places on us all as this influx needs to have their children go to our schools, get health care in the emergency room, crowd into rental housing, and most importantly can take that driver’s license they acquired to the Board of Elections and tell the nice people there that, si, they are eligible to vote in our fair state because they have this driver’s license that says so. The Board of Elections can’t question that and has to take an applicant at their word that they are a citizen who’s eligible to vote. What’s perjury when you’re already here unlawfully?
All we’re asking for is a simple measure that only discriminates against those who should not be here in the first place. Think it will pass?
