First, I feel it is absurd and insulting to ignore the distinction between legal documented immigrants and illegal immigrants. Let's not cheapen the meaning of the term "citizen."

Second, as we already have a plethora of so-called law abiding illegal immigrants driving without licenses or insurance (and without consequence when caught), I would be astounded if these same individuals would now voluntarily assume the extra expense and administrative hassle of obtaining a license and insurance policy. Instead, I believe that the hit and runs will continue, particulary as the undocumented, having no credit history or assets to seize, are basically judgment-proof.

The DMV also seems to lack the capacity for such an undertaking. DMV workers will all have to undergo extensive training to evaluate foreign licenses and passports in languages as diverse as Russian, Chinese and Farsi, both to determine their contents and if they are in fact legitimate documents.

I last visited the DMV about two years ago to replace a stolen license. My trip to the DMV "Express," which consisted of handing over a pre-signed police affidavit and a completed DMV form involed a wait of more than an hour and a half. I cannot imagine how the agency will manage the added burden of evaluating and verifying foreign documents.

As a hardworking, law abiding, tax paying U.S. Citizen and resident of New York State I pray that Governor Spitzer finds the wisdom to protect those hardworking, legal citizens who willingly put our faith in him to guide us safely through the next six years.

Astounding information - many undocumented drivers actually do pay insurance policies. They are driving cars that belong to friends and family members and they reimburse their family members for the insurance. Since you have to show insurance coverage in order to get a plate on a car, then actually driving without insurance is more difficult to get away with than driving without a license. Legalizing drivers licenses is a practical and sane thing for Spitzer to have done.

And since DMV staff clearly does not have the capacity for all that complexity - the idea that they are capable of understanding immigration law has always been pretty ludicrous. With the consequence that many documented people have also been denied drivers licenses in the past years. Thank god that not all politicians are allow themselves to be led around by the anti-immigrant extreme.

I think Gov. Spitzer's decision to license drivers without regard to immigration status is correct (and it view of the flack its drawn) courageous. If the undocumented can get licenses, they're brought into the regulatory system and the State will stop driving people into illegal actions.

However, I think it's worth thinking about the breadth and depth of the opposition this otherwise reasonable has proposal has generated. Republican county clerks have stated they'll refuse to process such applications. Mayor Bloomberg thinks the move will make it harder for New Yorkers to use licenses as ID and some characterize it as making driving less safe. Lots of this is just politicians posturing and posing for pictures, but there's a reason pol's think this will play in Peoria.

We're deeply divided in our views on undocumented people. Each and every accommodation to their reality in our midst, stirs serious and vehement rage on the part of those who -- for a variety of reasons (wage competition, belief in lawful process, fear of foreigners) want these millions of people magically gone. How, do you think, short of a miracle resolve these conflicts which have broken out among people of good will?

Governor Eliot Spitzer is right, and he is a hero!

Those bandit and scoundrel republicans are dividing our society with scare tactics. They are trying to make our country a hatemonger country. We welcome immigrants and their contribution to our society. The Americans who claim not to have jobs and complaining are the lazy scum of our society; we are hard working proud Americans who are not afraid to help the poor and make our society a welcoming society. Governor Eliot Spitzer is a real American whom our forefathers should be proud of. I pray to God he prevails, in which case he already did. For those of you, hateful dirt(s), go join the KKK, live in a trailer somewhere in the South in remote swaps, marry your closest, and do yourself a favor; don’t pollute our welcoming state and our country with your hate speeches. After all is it not a republican who was preying on young boy interns, and the other who took his family value straight to the rest room looking for perverts at least that was told. We are God fearing good and clean Americans, not thieves and perverts. Spitzer is right, let the poor dream as well.

Thank you, may God bless Spitzer and our country; may God give your hateful heart the scent of worship and care. And when I say worship is not worshipping the hateful rep., the overweight and ugly Congressman James Sensenbrenner, whose cholesterol level still out scores his ego and hatred. Why don’t he focus on his health and eating habits rather than scaring Americans with his inflated fear tactics, back room politics and poisons bills; he might as well go and work for groups like the K.K.K. We are a welcoming nation; we feed the poor; we pray to God; we love and respect our family, neighbors and God’s creatures. Why don’t we listen to star citizens such as the priests who devoted their lives for the good of men and God; who are telling us to be kind, why do we follow a no good liar republican politician?

It simply beats logic away. Go Spitzer and alike, enough of these lies.
No more voting republican for me.

I don't understand why everyone is making this an issue of Democrats v. Republicans. I am a registered Democrat and I still strongly oppose licensing illegal immigrants.

I also dislike the buzzwords of "anti-immigrant extremist." I am fully in favor of immigration provided that it is done legally (meaning according to the terms of existing law.) I even believe that the immigration laws should be amended to reflect the changing needs of society. But I do not believe in flagrantly disregarding the law.

I am an ethnic minority. My people fought for more than 300 years to change the laws so that we could be granted the same 'rights' that illegal immigrants are given from the moment that they cross the border. The majority of my friends are also minority and quite a few are naturalized citizens. They went through the proper channels to become American citizens and I am inspired by them. Their pathway to citizenship was neither quick nor easy process, and in some cases their families were seperated for several years. But all stayed the course, followed the law, and went on to become productive citzens. Being in America actually means something to them. If you want to talk about racism, how about talking about the disparate treatment of immigrants ariving on US soil based on their race and ethnicity.

It is an absolute disgrace that we are openly encouraging people to break the law by entering the country without going through the legal process, then bending over backwards making conditions favorable for them to stay without consequence. By taking the blame for "driving" them to break the law in driving without licenses, leaving the scenes of accidents, committing identity fraud, tax evasion. Heck, we probably are the reason for most of the gangs and gang violence.

Until this recent Spitzer crusade (including Medicaid for chemotherapy treatments) I had forgotten that politicians, regardless of their political affiliation are wealthy. They do not concern themselves with working class people who make enough not to qualify for public assistance but can barely afford anything remotely resembling the American dream. Those who spend 30% of their after-tax income on usurious student loan payments. Those who scrimp and save for years to buy a home only to have 35 immigrants crammed into the house next door, loitering on the sidewalks drinking beer and blasting music at all hours of the day and night. Who have to stretch every dollar to send their kids to private school because their own local public school is overcrowded and underpeforming and where 40% of the students speak no English. To have a small business and compete against companies that offer outrageously low bids by using illegal immigrant labor. To live in fear of a cancer diagnosis that will surely ruin you and your famly financially while the governor fights tohave illegal immigrants get the service for free. To vote for someone who claims that he will make the needs of citizens a priority, but 10 months into their term have yet to meaningfully deliver on those promises.

But, according to Democratic politicians, these are 'inconveniences' too insignificant to address. That you are selfish for wanting a decent life in exchange for hard work, and some tangible benefit for your tax payments.

American politics is about nothing but buzzwords and slogans these days. Spitzer fooled us into thinking otherwise. Just as it was supposedly 'Un-American' to so much as question the Iraq war 6 years ago, it is now 'Un-American' to question immigration policy or lack thereof. To question or disagree with anything is racist, immoral and un-American. Just shut up and keep paying taxes.

Keep believing that people only break the law because they are "driven" to do so. With all this moral majority BS, you are starting to sound just like Republicans.

So, fine. Give the illegal immigrants drivers licenses so they can more easily drive to work to collect their off-the-books wages. So that they can continue to claim whatever wages suit their purpose at any given time. Heck, let them vote. Give them all the benefits of citizenship with none of the burdens. What difference does any of it make anyway?

A driver's license is all that is currently required to register to vote in New York. Item 9 on the Voter Registration Form asks for either the last four digits of your SSN OR you DMV (driver's license) number.

It really makes you wonder if Spitzer's crusade to grant licenses to illegal immigrants doesn't have more to do with increasing the Democratic base by any means necessary? (legal or otherwise)

Mad? Go to wgy.com, under "on air" click on Al Roney--read his info on the right--if you look carefully there is a link to a forum that a listener put up. They are discussing a rally in Albany on 10/22. If you can't make it, spread the word

Talking about immigration laws we are talking about laws that have proven for years to be obsolete and ineffective. The immigration law system is a Catch 22 that is crying for a radical reform.
1. The law allows undocumented NYC students to go and pay for college and then leaves them with no opportunity to work without a SSN# http://www.nysun.com/article/23358
2. The law allows illegal immigrants to pay their taxes without getting any benefits in return. Most of the illegal immigrants are hoping to legalize themselves and obtain a green card sooner or later and they know how crucial it is for them to pay their taxes religiously. A study by DMI shows that from 1996 until 2003 individuals ineligible for SSN paid about 50 billion in federal taxes.
3. The law is not enforced on the service sector (the fastest growing sector of the economy) for employing illegal immigrants. Illegal immigrants however endure bitter exploitation and abuse by their employers stifled by the fear of being deported.
Talking about driving license the logic that makes the possession of driving license an immigration issue escapes me. I never thought of the DMV as an extension of Homeland Security. We are talking about THE RIGHT TO DRIVE A MOTOR VEHICLE and I just do not see the connection. If you are struggling to make a decent living in this country you should be guaranteed at least the basic rights, and having a driver’s license is just that - a basic human right to anyone who knows and abides to the traffic laws.
The new decision would protect the safety of citizens and non-citizens alike. Most of the hit and runs happen because of fear of being deported. Ultimately anti-immigration laws in all sectors of life create atmosphere of fear and promote abuse of immigrants’ human rights. Respecting the human rights of all the people who reside inside a country is a number one requirement for democracy. That is why, I want to congratulate Governor Spitzer on this decision.

P.S. to Free Speech: In order to vote in NYC one MUST be a US citizen. http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:ruthjpEJk5oJ:www.nyc.gov/html/vac/html/faq/faq.shtml+how+do+you+need+to+vote+in+nyc&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=3&gl=us