The Roundhouse in Santa Fe (Photo by Heath Haussamen)
Following two days of procedural wrangling and policy debate, the House today passed a bill that would repeal a law that allows undocumented immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses.
House Bill 78, sponsored by Rep. Andy Nuñez, I-Hatch, now heads to the Senate, where it faces a tough road. The full Senate has already rejected attempts to add similar legislation to another bill as an amendment, and a Senate committee has tabled a similar bill.
In the House, eight Democrats voted with Nuñez and the entire GOP caucus in voting for the bill. See how each member voted here.
Here are comments from news releases sent following the vote:
Gov. Susana Martinez had this to say:
“Today, the will of the people of New Mexico was heard in the House of Representatives. Despite numerous procedural schemes to defend the status quo, a broad coalition of Republicans, Democrats and the House’s lone independent came together to stand with an overwhelming majority of New Mexicans who want to see the dangerous practice of issuing driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants overturned. I hope the Senate will also listen to the people of New Mexico and give this bill an up-or-down vote.”
Minority Leader Tom Taylor, R-Farmington, said today’s vote was “an historic effort for a much-needed result.” Minority Whip Don Bratton, R-Hobbs, said those who won the vote “fought through a history of majority rule, stall tactics and broken rules to make this happen, and New Mexicans should be proud.”
Meanwhile, Democratic Party of New Mexico Chairman Javier Gonzales had this to say:
“It would be nice to see Governor Martinez approach job creation for New Mexicans with the same fervor she has showed on the drivers license issue. Apparently wedge issues carry more weight with this governor than our struggling economy.”