49 DEMOCRATS SIGN ONTO BILL TERMED “PATHWAY TO VOTING”
by Ted Tripp
Political Reporter
Just as New Mexico is in the process of repealing its law allowing driver’s licenses for illegal aliens, Massachusetts is once again pushing ahead to make illegal aliens eligible for learner’s permits and driver’s licenses.
On January 20, 2016 Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier (D-Pittsfield), Sen. Patricia Jehlen (D-Somerville) and 47 other Democrats filed H.2985, a bill Relative to Safe Driving, which would once again allow those persons without social security numbers or proof of citizenship to be eligible for driver’s licenses. The bill was sent to the Joint Transportation Committee, which, on short notice, scheduled a hearing on the merits of it for March 8 in Gardner Auditorium. This gave little time for opponents of the legislation to plan or schedule testimony against the bill. A skeptic of the system might say this rush to a hearing was done on purpose.
The bill is fairly simple and says, in essence: “Nothing in this section shall permit the registrar to deny a license to operate motor vehicles or learner’s permit application based on a failure by a Massachusetts resident ineligible for a social security number to provide a social security number or evidence of immigration status.” It also adds: “(b) A license, learner’s permit or Massachusetts identification card shall not confer eligibility for any public benefit,” though it is unclear how this would be enforced since a license allows one to obtain all sorts of additional identification which could be used for other purposes.
In 2014 the Boston Broadside opposed a similar bill, H.3285, which eventually was given an unfavorable vote by the Joint Transportation Committee. We opposed H.3238 then like we oppose H.2985 now by asking a series of questions. What is to stop a convicted child molester or sex offender from changing his name and then going to the Registry for a new license? With the new license in hand he could get a job anywhere and a CORI check would show a clean record since there would be no background information. And if that person was stopped by the police for a traffic violation, the police database would show a clean record with no criminal behavior. At least with the current registry system a social security number provides the police with a good chance that the person whose name is on the license is the correct one.
Drivers Licenses for Illegals, page 11
continued from page 3
I propose we also have a companion bill: An Act Relative to Gun Safety. In this bill we would offer gun licenses to those without a social security number or regardless of immigration status. Forget the other application requirements too, like “Have you ever used or been known by another name?” Do you think this new bill would make guns safer? Or citizens safer from gun violence?
The twisted logic you see in my Gun Safety Bill is the same as that used by those who are promoting the Safe Driving Bill.
By the way, New Mexico legislators are repealing their law because federal authorities have told them that their state’s licenses will soon “not be accepted” for federal purposes, including the boarding of airplanes.
Call or contact the members of the Joint Transportation Committee and ask them to vote against H.2985.
Comm. Member Party/Town Phone E-mail
Sen.Thomas McGee D-Lynn 617-722-1350 Thomas.McGee@masenate.gov
Sen. John Keenan D-Quincy 617-722-1494 John.Keenan@masenate.gov
Sen. Eileen Donoghue D-Lowell 617-722-1630 Eileen.Donoghue@masenate.gov
Sen. Eric Lesser D-Longmeadow 617-722-1291 eric.lesser@masenate.gov
Sen. Linda Forry D-Boston 617-722-1150 Linda.DorcenaForry@masenate.gov
Sen. Michael Rush D-Boston 617-722-1348 Mike.Rush@masenate.gov
Rep. William Straus D-Mattapoisett 617-722-2400 William.Straus@mahouse.gov
Rep. Michael Finn D-W. Springfield 617-722-2400 Michael.Finn@mahouse.gov
Rep. Timothy Madden D-Nantucket 617-722-2810 Timothy.Madden@mahouse.gov
Rep. Kenneth Gordon D-Bedford 617-722-2013 Ken.Gordon@mahouse.gov
Rep. Daniel Ryan D-Boston 617-722-2575 Dan.Ryan@mahouse.gov
Rep. Evandro Carvalho D-Boston 617-722-2460 Evandro.Carvalho@mahouse.gov
Rep. Steven Howitt R-seekonk 617-722-2305 Steven.Howitt@mahouse.gov
Rep. Hannah Kane R-Shrewsbury 617-722-2430 Hannah.Kane@mahouse.gov
Rep. Chris Walsh D-Framingham 617-722-2013 Chris.Walsh@mahouse.gov
Rep. Daniel Donahue D-Worcester 617-722-2006 Daniel.Donahue@mahouse.gov
Rep. RoseLee Vincent D-Revere 617-722-2210 RoseLee.Vincent@mahouse.gov
Rep. Joseph McGonagle, Jr. D-Everett 617-722-2400 Joseph.McGonagle@mahouse.gov
Rep. David Muradian, Jr. R-Grafton 617-722-2240 David.Muradian@mahouse.gov
