The California Legislature on Thursday passed a bill by Assemblyman Luis Alejo, D-Salinas, which would allow any immigrant to apply for a driver’s license. AB 60 passed out of the State Senate with a vote of 28-8 and was approved by the State Assembly with a vote of 55-19.
“With AB 60 we are recognizing the needs of many hard-working immigrants living here and contributing so much to our great state. Immigrants who drive legally are more likely to work, spend and contribute to the economy,” said Alejo in a statement.
The measure garnered bi-partisan support in San Benito County.
“AB 60 is important to the state of California because we need those living here and sharing our roads to be educated and insured,” Sen. Anthony Cannella, R-Ceres, said in a statement. “Not only is it the right thing to do, but our economy will benefit.”
Those sentiments were echoed by Robert Bernosky, the chairman of the San Benito County GOP.
“They (illegal immigrants) want to drive, and more insured drivers on the road is a good thing,” he said. “We need to get our arms around the problem and fix it.”
Still, he said, the United States is a “nation of laws.”
“We have to stem the flow” of illegal immigrants, he said.
