DIXON ANNOUNCES ONLINE PETITION OPPOSING
DRIVER’S LICENSES FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS – DEMANDS POLONCARZ JOIN HER IN OPPOSITION TO NYC PLAN


“When will Mark Poloncarz finally stand up for the values of Erie County and against those of Andrew Cuomo and New York City politicians?” – Lynne Dixon
Buffalo, N.Y. – Today, Lynne Dixon announced an online petition opposing driver’s licenses for illegal immigrants, demanding that Mark Poloncarz join her in opposition to the plan pushed by downstate politicians.


Buffalo, N.Y. – Today, Lynne Dixon announced an online petition opposing driver’s licenses for illegal immigrants, demanding that Mark Poloncarz join her in opposition to the plan pushed by downstate politicians.
“Instead of addressing the real issues facing New Yorkers, like the high tax burden and out-of-control spending, Cuomo and his New York City politicians are attempting to score political points by giving over 265,000 illegal immigrants a driver’s license,” said Lynne Dixon. “Voters across New York, especially in Erie County, are opposed to granting driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants and I wish we had a county executive who stood up for the values of our County and against those of Andrew Cuomo and downstate politicians. That is why I am starting a petition to send a message to Albany that Democrats, Republicans and Independents in Erie County are opposed to awarding illegal immigrants with a driver’s license and I hope Mark Poloncarz joins me.”

In the State Assembly, downstate politicians – with Governor Andrew Cuomo’s “green-light” – are pushing through a bill that would allow over 265,000 illegal immigrants in New York to obtain a driver’s license. In 2007, Governor Eliot Spitzer notoriously tried to pass a similar bill but was met with fierce opposition from across New York, especially from then-Erie County Clerk Kathy Hochul – now New York’s Lt. Governor. Last year, Erie County Clerk Michael Kearns, a Democrat, came out in strong opposition to this policy, stating that his office would not issue any driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants in Erie County. According to a March Siena poll, this policy is deeply unpopular in New York, with 6 out of 10 New Yorkers – including 71 percent of Independents – opposed to it.

“Kathy Hochul was right, allowing people who openly disrespect our laws to obtain a driver’s license is wrong, and just another unfunded mandate that puts a lot of unnecessary costs and stress on county governments. Today, county clerks are forced to reject applications for driver’s licenses from legal residents who do not possess the proper documentation to prove their identity but the current proposal in the State Assembly would allow illegal immigrants to obtain a driver’s license without giving clerks a means of verifying who they are – creating a public safety concern for clerks, their staff and law enforcement across New York State. The absurdity of the Governor and state lawmakers when it comes to illegal immigrants was most apparent a few weeks ago when they voted to give free college tuition to illegal immigrants but had to be publicly shamed to do the same for Gold Star families,” added Dixon.