PUMP THE BRAKES
L.A. Parker: Politicians delay driver’s license legislation that benefits immigrants >>
While a groundswell of support has produced a mountain of affirmations to pass A-4743/ S-3229, legislation that would expand access to drivers licenses to all qualified New Jersey drivers, regardless of immigration status, Democrats continue a let ‘em wait strategy.
Let’s Drive NJ distributed two emails last week, plus, delivered 15,000 signatures that hardly moved the needle for hope of passage.
Thirteen leaders of major labor unions in New Jersey sent a letter to Senate President Sweeney (D-3rd), Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin (D-19th) and Governor
Phil Murphy on Friday calling on the officials to dislodge a bill that would create a two-track licenses system as the state moves to implement the federal REAL ID act.
Let’s Drive NJ noted “the legislation, introduced in December by Assemblywoman Annette Quijano (D20) and Senator Joe Vitale (D-19), has stalled in the Senate and Assembly,” according to Hera Mir, communications and operations associate for New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice.
Hera noted the letter “called on the legislature to enact A4743/S-3229 which will allow hundreds of thousands of New Jersey drivers to “engage more in the economic life of the state” and create safer roads in the Garden State. The labor leaders cited economic benefits to the state, including increased revenue for the state from new fees and registrations, as well as declining auto-insurance premiums as more drivers become insured.”
New Jersey could expect anywhere between $5.2 million and $11.1 million in new revenue from these fees,” and increase residents’ spending power. Nearly a half million New Jerseyans are anticipated to be newly eligible for a license if A-4743/S-3229 becomes law.
Last Thursday, February 28th, impacted residents who cannot get access to a driver’s licenses in New Jersey, joined by other supporters delivered the aforementioned petition signatures to Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin’s in-district office in Woodbridge.
New data released by New Jersey Policy Perspective found the economic security of New Jersey’s lowincome families is significantly impacted by access to a driver’s license.
Most polls, surveys and other social bellwethers allege support stabilizes near 55 percent for support of A-4743/S-3229 and that Democrats have the votes to pass these new laws that could deliver an immediate positive impact to the lives of immigrants.
“What we see publicly does not dovetail with what the legislators are doing,” Mir told The Trentonian. “We’ve been hearing this for the past 10 to 12 years — that they’re going to move on this. We keep hearing about the timing of the vote, maybe not until November, but honestly, many people in these communities cannot wait any longer.”
Mir mirrors a mindboggling opinion that Democrats appear to be waiting until a fall election that places in play all 80 seats of the Assembly. Let’s Drive NJ and Cosecha, a more aggressive organization that fights for driver’s license laws for immigrants, could stockpile petitions and back their alliances with strong economic facts but Speaker Coughlin controls.
It’s during these logjams that residents receive an education regarding Democrats and Republicans, specifically, their inherent need to protect their futures, even if those personal pursuits cause harm to others.
Many members from both parties admit that immigrants could use a hand up, yet, our political leaders worry about self-preservation, delivering the famous punch line of “get re-elected” regarding their initial concern after being elected.
Eventually, the waste matter of Democrats and Republicans smells equally horrific. In this case, politicians incorporate a “Let ‘em wait” strategy, knowing that if they can stretch this issue until June then the summer will serve as perfect cover until November. They play with people’s lives and livelihoods with a smugness that reveals their true character.
“They haven’t given us a timeline,” Mir noted. “It’s not okay to hold a bill for reasons like this. This should not be about politics, it should be about doing what’s right for people. Sure, there’s a frustration that builds with each day that passes without any movement. But we have to keep fighting.”