SPRINGFIELD - Illegal residents of Illinois will soon be able to obtain temporary drivers licenses, as the Illinois House passed SB 957 with 65 House members voting yes. Having already passed the Illinois Senate, the bill will go to the Governor's desk.
The House floor debate over SB 957 reached emotional levels. "I've been called every name in the book, and I've been told that I don't know what it's like to be a true American," State Rep. Edward Acevedo (D-Chicago) told his colleagues. "It doesn't matter is we're Latino, yellow, gay or straight, we're human beings and should be treated like humans!"
Another supporter, Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie) said that he would not let a few hysterical voices persuade him to vote against driving privileges for illegals. Others voicing support included Reps. Toni Berrios, Elaine Hernandez, and Cynthia Soto, who said, "Come on, no one of us is perfect."
Despite attempts from State Reps Dwight Kay (R-Glen Carbon) and Jack Franks (D-Crystal Lake) to get the sponsor to promise follow up legislation requiring the license applicants to be fingerprinted, State Rep. Edward Acevedo (D-Chicago) would say only that he is willing to sit down and talk about concerns. Franks urged Acevedo to commit to the trailer bill, and Acevedo repeated that he would be willing to talk about it.
Republican Bloomington State Rep. Dan Brady voiced support the bill, saying his family had been involved in an auto accident involving an uninsured, unlicensed document.
More to come ...
