|
Legislature Supports Resolution Opposing Gov. Spitzer's Policy Change on Establishing Identity and Legal Presence
County Clerks across State line up against Governor's proposal
by Margaret Sternberg
At an October 16, 2007 Special Meeting of the full Legislature, Putnam's County Clerk, Dennis J. Sant, requested and received the County Legislature's strong support in signing a resolution stating opposition to a plan proposed by Governor Eliot Spitzer.
According to Mr. Sant, "Under the governor's proposal, the NYS Department of Motor Vehicles will no longer require applicants to provide Social Security numbers or other proof that they are here legally." Sant said that a passport or other documents from the immigrant's country "proving who you are, your name and that you reside in the state of NY, not legally" would be considered sufficient to obtain a driver's license. Sant said that 13 [county] clerks in the state have already made a stand that they will "defy directives from the governor…because he is pressuring us to violate our oath of office."
Sant explained the clerks are "essentially" being told to ignore the vehicle and traffic laws of NYS regarding security verification, as well as to ignore recommendations of the 9/11 Commission that now require all states to enforce more rigorous security checks in issuing drivers licenses. Sant also said the proposal contradicts federal regulations and statutes on enabling illegal aliens to remain in this country.
Sant emphasized that the issue was not immigration, but those who are in the country illegally.
Sant told the Legislature that 30 county clerks voted on a resolution opposing the governor's stand and are asking Governor Spitzer to immediately rescind the policy, which is not a law. The resolution the Legislature voted on that evening was similar but more strongly worded than that of the clerks. Sant said the resolution had been supported by State Senator Vincent L. Leibell.
The Governor is claiming it is "his administrative authority" to take this action, according to Sant, and "the NYS Assembly is putting forth a resolution and a law to protect the county clerks of this state. [The governor] wants to take legal action against us and have us removed for not performing our duties…"
Acting Legislative Chairman Terry Intrary, a former police officer, calling a driver's license "a privilege," said that to get a driver's license "based on no legitimacy whatsoever is…under the policy even Bin Laden could get a license.' That's how ridiculous it is."
Undersheriff Peter Convery added that the Sheriff's Department was also concerned, pointing out that the NYS driver's license has always been considered a very secure form of identification because it is based upon having a Social Security card. Convery said the proposal will cause a "monumental problem from a Homeland Security point of view and of not really being able to identify who we're dealing with." Convery said that the NYS Sheriff's Association will also be voicing their "adamant" concerns to the Governor.
The Legislature's resolution called the Governor's policy "ill-advised" and asked the Governor to "withdraw and rescind" his executive order enabling the new policy. The resolution, which "spoke" for both the Legislature and County Clerk Sant, also "demanded" that Attorney General Andrew Cuomo take "any and all legal options available to NYS prohibiting Governor Spitzer from enacting" the [executive] order, which overrides part of the vehicle and traffic laws. The resolution also requires that any applicant for a driver's license provide his or her Social Security number.
The Legislature voted 7-0 to support the resolution. Two legislators were absent that evening.
Providing local news, information and opinions from
Philipstown and Putnam Valley, NY
Encompassing the Villages of Cold Spring and Nelsonville,
and the hamlet of Garrison, Putnam County, NY.
This site is a publication of The Putnam County News and Recorder, the source for news and information of the Philipstown
and Putnam Valley area. The PCN&R is 139
years old, published in hard copy every Wednesday, and circulated throughout Putnam
County, NY.
The PCN&R prints LEGAL NOTICES
for: Putnam County, The Town of Philipstown, The Town of Putnam Valley, Village of Cold Spring, Village of
Nelsonville, the Haldane Union Free School District and the Garrison Union Free School
District.
Deadline for printed press releases, advertisements and classifieds is Monday at noon for
Wednesday publication. This site is updated on an as-needed basis with a minimum update
weekly on Thursdays. For further information or to request a subscription to the paper, please
contact us with your name and mailing address at:
(845) 265-2468 PO Box 185, Cold Spring, NY 10516, or e-mail us at editor@pcnr.com
If you see an advertiser on line, tell them! | 
