NM House sends immigrant license bill to Senate

March 05, 2011

the bill that would ban drivers' licenses for illegal immigrants is in the state senate's hands. as we first told you at 6 -- the house passed the bill the governor has been pushing for. tonight our eddie garcia talked to state senators to gauge how this bill will do on the senate floor. he's live in santa fe with our big story. as we've been reporting all week this has been a bitter fight in the house and now the senate is gearing up to take it on. the bill that passed the house today would repeal the 2003 law that allows foreigners to get new mexico drivers licenses regardless of their legal status. now it's next stop is right here in the senate where the majority has resisted changes to the current law. today i tracked down senators from both parties as they were walking from committee to committee to get a sense of where they stand. clearly the people of new mexico wanted this and the only surprise to me was that it took so long for such an overwhelming yes vote. it's craziness. this is one of these issues you can't seem to speak about intelligently as to the pros and cons because so many idealogues are whipping up peoples emotions that you can't be heard over the shouting and scream. the bill is expected to be heard in a senate committee early next week. a bill very similar to this one was already in a senate committee but its been tabled live at the roundhouse, eddie garcia kob ewn 4. tonight the governor issued a statement applauding the house's vote. she said she hopes "the senate will also listen to the people of new mexico and give this bill an up-or- down vote."