Centerfield

Cynical Centrist

I hadn't understood why centrist Gray Davis inspires such disgust in California. But thanks to blantantly cynical moves like this, I now get it.

After rejecting similar bills twice before, Gov. Gray Davis signed legislation Friday that will permit illegal immigrants to obtain driver's licenses. The governor's turnaround is generally seen as an effort to win support from Latinos as he attempts to fight off the Oct. 7 recall effort, a view that Davis' aides dispute. Latinos make up 17 percent of the state's registered voters.

David has cast aside homeland security concerns about the driver's license, which is our de facto ID, putting personal ambition before principle.

Davis vetoed earlier versions of the bill, AB60 last year and AB1463 in 1999, citing homeland security concerns. In response, Cedillo had included a provision for criminal background checks in last year's measure. And this year, at the governor's urging, he proposed a high-tech fingerprinting plan. But those elements did not make it into the final version that landed on the governor's desk, prompting frustration in some law-enforcement quarters.

"We wanted to see the biometric identifier, some ability to cross-reference existing criminal databases, we wanted to see it be a temporary license pending becoming a legal resident," said Nick Warner, legislative director for the California State Sheriffs' Association. "For three years the governor has taken that as his position. Flash forward to Sept. 5, and we part ways."

The uninsured driver issue is a red herring. Supposedly, the reason for this legislation is that illegal immigrants are driving without insurance as well as licenses. Some victims of car accidents can't get compensation because drivers are uninsured.

If that is the case, why not have a state health insurance fund and social services to help people who are handicapped as a result of accidents? We don't need to blow away our homeland security and immigration policies because of inadequate medical coverage.

It's true that the vast majority of immigrants are not terrorists. So are the vast majority of airline passengers. Still, we have to develop policies that take into account the bad faith of the few who are.

Posted by rickheller at September 6, 2003 10:39 AM