It involves Virginia’s abusive driver fees and illegal immigrants:
RICHMOND, Aug. 21 — Democratic lawmakers launched a new front in the battle over abusive-driver fees Tuesday, accusing Republicans of exempting illegal immigrants from having to pay them. The effort drew rebukes from immigrant rights groups and Gov. Timothy M. Kaine, whose spokesman called it “absolutely silly.”
House Democrats targeted Del. Daniel W. Marshall III (R), who supported the fees and represents the southern district of Danville, where immigration has become a major issue.
In a statement Tuesday, Mark Bergman, a spokesman for the House Democratic Caucus, said the fees provide “immunity for out-of-state drivers and illegal immigrants.”
Immigrant rights activists were outraged by the Democrats’ accusation because, they say, Virginia’s law applies to most illegal immigrants.
The Democratic attack on Marshall underscores how the fees — which can reach $3,000 — and illegal immigration are shaping up to be two top issues in the fall elections, when all 140 seats in the House of Delegates and Senate are open.
There are two problems with this argument. First of all, it’s been fairly well established that it was Governor Tim Kaine who insisted on changing the abusive driver fees statute to apply only to in-state drivers. Second, whether you like the abusive driver fees or not, the Democrats are completely wrong when they say that the fees wouldn’t apply to illegal immigrants:
According to the legislation, the fees are assessed on motorists who have Virginia licenses and on “persons operating motor vehicles without licenses or whose license has been revoked or suspended.”
Illegal immigrants have been barred since 2004 from obtaining driver’s licenses in Virginia.
Del. David B. Albo (R-Fairfax), who wrote the abusive-driver law, said illegal immigrants convicted of an offense that triggers a fee would have to pay the charge because they would not have a license or would have a revoked license.
“If he doesn’t have a license, he pays,” Albo said.
Of course, if an illegal immigrant manages to have a license from another state they’d be exempt from paying the fees. But you can thank Governor Kaine for that one.
August 22nd, 2007 at 12:02 pm
[...] legislative action, but he has refused to even talk about it. Meanwhile, Democrats in Danville are starting to get on board with the illegal alien issue, leaving their party leader in the uncomfortable position of defending [...]