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Illinois Senate OKs driver's licenses for illegal immigrants
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SPRINGFIELD (AP) — A plan that would allow illegal immigrants inIllinois to get driver's licenses cleared another hurdle Tuesday, withthe state Senate approving the measure hours after Republican leadersin the General Assembly offered their support and said they've beenworking with Democrats on the issue for years. The measure, which would let illegal immigrants get tested forlicenses and buy insurance without facing deportation, passed thestate Senate 41-14. State Sen. Mike Jacobs, D-East Moline, was one of the supporters of the proposal in the Senate. "This is certainly a tough issue, and I can see both sides," he said. "However, the safety of all drivers was the overriding factor in why I voted for it. I can only hope that Washington will similarly step up and resolve the broader immigration issue." The bill now heads to the House, which ends its fall veto session today. The licenses couldn'tbe used for other purposes, such as boarding a plane or voteridentification. Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno of Lemont and House MinorityLeader Tom Cross of Oswego stood with former Gov. Jim Edgar and otherRepublicans earlier Tuesday to announce their support for thelegislation. Illinois has about 250,000 illegal immigrants who are driving withouttraining and insurance, proponents say. Those drivers caused $64million in damage claims each year, according to the Highway SafetyCoalition, a group that supports the bill. The legislation was sponsored by Chicago Democratic Senate PresidentJohn Cullerton. Supporters say the temporary licenses issued wouldlook the same as those given to foreigners who are in the countrylegally, so police couldn't target illegal immigrants. The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights kicked off its campaign in support of the licenses at a Nov. 20 event inChicago with Cullerton and Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn. Edgar andComptroller Judy Baar Topinka, who also attended an event in supportof the bill Tuesday, were there, but not Radogno or Cross. At the time, Radogno said she had a scheduling conflict and aspokeswoman said she hadn't discussed the matter with Cross. Asked Tuesday about their Nov. 20 absence, Cross and Radognodownplayed the issue, and coalition chief Lawrence Benito saidlegislation hadn't been drafted until last week. Cross said Tuesday that he'd seen the bill and was supportive of it. "It's not a new issue and it's had bipartisan engagement for fiveyears," Radogno said. "What we see now is both sides coming togetherand some movement on both sides to get a product that can actuallymove the ball forward." Neither addressed the point Edgar made two weeks ago that the measureis a sound opportunity for the GOP to reach out to Latino voters, whoplayed a large role in the shellacking the Republicans took in theGeneral Assembly in the Nov. 6 election. Democrats won supermajoritycontrol of both the House and Senate. GOP endorsement "bodes well for not only this piece of legislation,which is so important," said Edgar, who also spent 10 years assecretary of state. "It bodes well for the whole system that we see onan important issue like this, that Republicans and Democrats arecoming together and trying to find common ground." 
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Today is Tuesday, May 21, the 141st day of 2013. There are 224 days left in the year.
1863 -- 150 years ago: On Monday the 11th inst. on Center Ridge in Mercer County,some citizens got out their cannon to celebrate the taking of Richmond. The gun wasoverloaded and burst. No one was injured, but one 30-pound piece went though thesecond story of a house.
1888 -- 125 years ago: The old folks concert at the Harper Theater last night to benefit St.Luke's Cottage Hospital, attracted a large audience.
1913 -- 100 years ago: Unless depredation by vandals in Rock Island parks is halted,special policemen will be assigned to night duty to protect the flowers and other property.
1938 -- 75 years ago: Station WHBF has received a special citation from Washington forits participation in Air Mail Week, which was observed this week throughout the nation.
1963 -- 50 years ago: A 10-year high in employment in the Quad-City area was reachedat the end of the last quarter, according to an industrial employment barometer releasedtoday.
1988 -- 25 years ago: Pee Wee teams will be able to play baseball and softball as usualon Diamond Three at Dorrance Park this summer, but after that, the ball field is doomed.County crews have put the diamond back in shape after heavy trucks marred the playingfield earlier this spring. Illinois Department of Transportation crews drove onto it to makeborings for the relocation of the junction of Illinois 84 and the Port Byron-Hillsdale road.
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