Montana Legislature

Senate Votes to Deny Illegal Aliens Licenses

By Dan Testa, 2-15-07

A favorite argument against many bills in Senate floor debates is that the legislation attempts to solve a problem that doesn’t exist—that if it ain’t broke, as the saying goes, then don’t fix it.

Such were the arguments Thursday against a bill introduced by Sen. Jim Shockley, R-Victor, to deny state licenses to illegal aliens.

Ultimately, however, the Senate voted for the bill, 27 to 23, clearing the way for its passage to the House.

“Illegal aliens are not bad people,” Shockley said. “They’re hard workers and they want to better themselves.”

But they take jobs, bust unions and use public services for which they haven’t paid, he added.

Shockley’s bill does not require any disciplinary action by the state nor that any licenses already issued be revoked.

“This is a very innocuous bill,” Shockley added.

Sen. Vicki Cocchiarella, D-Missoula, said the bill could overturn the licensing criteria for all Montanans and that it’s impossible for an illegal alien to get a license in most cases anyway.

“We don’t have an issue with this right now in Montana,” Cocchiarella said. “Current criteria does not allow someone who is an illegal alien to proceed through those steps.”

“I think enforcement and responsibility by employers and contractors is the direction we should go,” she added.

Sen. Dave Wanzenried, D-Missoula, said the bill required an explanation of its cost, since similar efforts in Colorado to beef up licensing regulation have cost the state millions.

“We’re not going to be able to make this work; Colorado has tried this,” Wanzenried said. “The policy question is whether or not the state ought to be an immigration service.”

“Arguments against this bill are simply muddying the waters,” said Shockley in his conclusion. “These illegal immigrants are a minority who should have to obey the law.”

“The people of Montana want us to do something about this issue.”

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