Inland Southern California

DRIVER BILL: Some Latino lawmakers express concerns over slow progress in negotiations.

11:34 PM PDT on Thursday, May 20, 2004

SACRAMENTO - As the legislative session enters its final months, some lawmakers expressed frustration with the slow pace of negotiations with Gov. Schwarzenegger on a bill to grant driver licenses to undocumented immigrants.

One assemblyman said Thursday that the issue could become an obstacle to approval of a 2004-05 budget.

"It raises a real concern. We're talking about maintaining the integrity of the negotiations," said Assemblyman Manny Diaz, D-San Jose, one of the leaders of the 24-member Latino Legislative Caucus.

Other caucus members said the $103 billion budget and driver licenses will stay separate.

"We think the governor committed to finding solutions to the 2 million Californians who want to be law-abiding ... drivers. We need to resolve that problem," said Assemblyman Marco Firebaugh, D-South Gate, the caucus chairman. "Caucus members may or may not vote for the budget, but based on budget considerations independent of SB 1160."

Signed by former Gov. Gray Davis in September, a bill granting driver licenses to undocumented immigrants became a lightning rod for abuse during last year's recall campaign. Schwarzenegger campaigned on overturning it, which the Legislature did within two weeks after he took office.

Since then, Schwarzenegger has said he is open to new driver license legislation as long as it includes better security and insurance protections. State Sen. Gil Cedillo, D-Los Angeles, has introduced a tentative replacement measure, SB 1160, pending the outcome of talks with the governor's office. But those negotiations have not produced an agreement.

"It is possible. But, I mean, it's all possible, but it is a very, very complicated issue," Schwarzenegger said last month, mentioning concerns about background checks and fingerprinting.

Cedillo, who carried last year's bill, SB 60, and then cast an emotional vote to repeal it, voiced optimism. In a statement, he acknowledged some colleagues' concerns about the lack of an agreement.

"It's certainly a priority for us. How much it's a priority for other members, we'll have to wait and see," Cedillo said.

Last week, Schwarzenegger offered a revised spending plan and called on lawmakers to approve a budget by the June 15 constitutional deadline. The new fiscal year begins July 1.

If legislators pass the budget on time, they will be gone the month of July for summer recess. They will return Aug. 2 for a frenetic four weeks of lawmaking before the legislative session ends Aug. 31.

Supporters of the driver license bill said they want an agreement before then.

"You don't want to have a proposal that surfaces the last week in August," said state Sen. Denise Moreno Ducheny, D-San Diego. "If they say no in June, it's almost like they're saying we'll do it next year."

Undocumented immigrants were eligible for driver licenses until a decade ago, when the Legislature changed the law.

Returning to the practice, supporters say, would recognize undocumented immigrants' contributions as well as making the roads safer. But Opponents, including nearly all Republican legislators, contend that the practice rewards people in the country illegally and poses a security risk.