Backers push for vote on driver’s licenses for undocumented immigrants

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Maria Negreros says she risks breaking the law each day to drive her children to preschool.Jovita Morales told lawmakers that in August 2007 it took hours to reach her two children who had been inside a bus that fell along with the Interstate 35W bridge into the Mississippi River.Anna Serrano wants to see her parents — owners of a new restaurant — to be able to get behind the wheel legally and stop relying on others for rides.All testified Wednesday during an informational hearing of the House Transportation Policy and Finance Committee packed with supporters lobbying for a vote on legislation that would make driver’s licenses available to the state’s thousands of undocumented immigrants.“I want my parents to drive safely to work without worrying about being pulled over,” said Serrano, an 18-year-old college student from Willmar who emigrated with her parents from Mexico as a small child.Sponsored by Rep. Rod Hamilton (R-Mountain Lake),HF97 would eliminate the need for proof of lawful residency in the United States to obtain a driver’s license or state identification card, something the sixth-term lawmaker and a diverse coalition of supporters said would mean more insured drivers and safer Minnesota roads.No vote was taken on the bill, nor on identical legislation sponsored by Rep. Karen Clark (DFL-Mpls),HF98. A pair of Senate committees have already approved a companion sponsored by Sen. Bobby Joe Champion (DFL-Mpls). SF224 now awaits action by the Senate Rules and Administration Committee. ‘Bigger than a license’Immigrant rights advocates packed a State Office Building committee room for the afternoon hearing, as well as an overflow space where they listened to live audio. While it’s an issue typically fraught with politics, Hamilton told the committee that driver’s licenses for undocumented immigrants is a good idea for a simple reason.“We would have an individual who would go through trainings, would receive a license, then purchase car insurance and drive on our roads,” he said.But following more than an hour of emotional testimony from a list of backers that included immigrants and the children of immigrants, supporters representing business interests and labor groups, police departments and the church, Hamilton acknowledged the issue of letting undocumented immigrants drive legally on the state’s roads is about more than that, too.“If you listen to the testimony closely, it’ll boil down to one thing,” he said. “The Declaration of Independence, and the moral belief that it is a right; that we’re born equal to pursue life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We’ve had the conversation — this is bigger than a driver’s license.”Two years ago, state lawmakers passed the Minnesota Dream Act into law, making the children of some undocumented immigrants eligible for in-state tuition and financial aid. Continue Reading

Backers push for vote on driver’s licenses for undocumented immigrants

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Maria Negreros says she risks breaking the law each day to drive her children to preschool.Jovita Morales told lawmakers that in August 2007 it took hours to reach her two children who had been inside a bus that fell along with the Interstate 35W bridge into the Mississippi River.Anna Serrano wants to see her parents — owners of a new restaurant — to be able to get behind the wheel legally and stop relying on others for rides.All testified Wednesday during an informational hearing of the House Transportation Policy and Finance Committee packed with supporters lobbying for a vote on legislation that would make driver’s licenses available to the state’s thousands of undocumented immigrants.All testified Wednesday during an informational hearing of the House Transportation Policy and Finance Committee packed with supporters lobbying for a vote on legislation that would make driver’s licenses available to the state’s thousands of undocumented immigrants.“I want my parents to drive safely to work without worrying about being pulled over,” said Serrano, an 18-year-old college student from Willmar who emigrated with her parents from Mexico as a small child.Sponsored by Rep. Rod Hamilton (R-Mountain Lake), HF97 would eliminate the need for proof of lawful residency in the United States to obtain a driver’s license or state identification card, something the sixth-term lawmaker and a diverse coalition of supporters said would mean more insured drivers and safer Minnesota roads.No vote was taken on the bill, nor on identical legislation sponsored by Rep. Karen Clark (DFL-Mpls), HF98. A pair of Senate committees have already approved a companion sponsored by Sen. Bobby Joe Champion (DFL-Mpls). SF224 now awaits action by the Senate Rules and Administration Committee.‘Bigger than a license’Immigrant rights advocates packed a State Office Building committee room for the afternoon hearing, as well as an overflow space where they listened to live audio. While it’s an issue typically fraught with politics, Hamilton told the committee that driver’s licenses for undocumented immigrants is a good idea for a simple reason.“We would have an individual who would go through trainings, would receive a license, then purchase car insurance and drive on our roads,” he said.But following more than an hour of emotional testimony from a list of backers that included immigrants and the children of immigrants, supporters representing business interests and labor groups, police departments and the church, Hamilton acknowledged the issue of letting undocumented immigrants drive legally on the state’s roads is about more than that, too.“If you listen to the testimony closely, it’ll boil down to one thing,” he said. “The Declaration of Independence, and the moral belief that it is a right; that we’re born equal to pursue life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Continue Reading

Hennepin, Ramsey counties excluded from plan to redirect funds for roads

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The House’s rural-urban divide took a big city vs. suburban turn Wednesday with the House Transportation Policy and Finance Committee giving its OK to a bill that would reallocate millions of dollars in sales tax revenue to all but the state’s two most populous counties. HF710, sponsored by Rep. Jon Koznick (R-Lakeville), would move $32 million in sales tax collected on motor vehicle leases from the General Fund and put it toward Greater Minnesota transit and to the County State-Aid Highway Fund for use on metro area roads — except in Hennepin and Ramsey counties.Suburban residents have been “paying more than their fair share” toward metropolitan transportation projects, Koznick said, many of them in the state’s two counties that are home to Minneapolis and St. Paul.Redirecting proceeds from the motor vehicle lease sales tax, he continued, would provide more funding for suburban transportation infrastructure and rural transit needs “without higher taxes or higher fees.”Current state law dictates the first $32 million of revenues collected from the tax each year are deposited in the General Fund. The remainder is split evenly between the County State-Aid Highway Fund and the Greater Minnesota transit account.Approved by the committee and sent to the House Taxes Committee, Koznick’s bill would split those reallocated funds evenly between rural transit and county state-aid highways in the Twin Cities’ “collar counties.”There is no Senate companion.Some members took exception to the exclusion of the state’s most populous counties, with Rep. Clark Johnson (DFL-North Mankato) saying the move pitted one part of the state against another for much-needed transportation funding. Rep. Ron Erhardt (DFL-Edina), whose district lies entirely within Hennepin County, said much of the leased vehicle sales tax revenue is generated in Hennepin and Ramsey counties. To exclude them from the reallocated tax revenue, he said, “That’s baloney.”“You say, ‘We’ve been paying for it,’” Erhardt told Koznick. Continue Reading

Republicans regain control of House

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One-party rule at the State Capitol is out after Republicans recaptured control of the House of Representatives during Tuesday’s elections.Two years after being swept from legislative power by a wave of DFL victories, Republicans picked up wins in a handful of key races to hold a 72-62 edge in the House.The DFL will retain control of the governorship, with Gov. Mark Dayton winning re-election. The Senate, under DFL control, did not stand for election. The Legislature is scheduled to convene Jan. 6, 2015.The District 48A race between Rep. Yvonne Selcer (DFL-Minnetonka) and former Republican House member Kirk Stensrud was decided by 36 votes in favor of Selcer. Stensrud could request a recount.State Canvassing Board members are scheduled to meet Nov. Continue Reading

Winter shut-off rule for propane heat gets House energy OK

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Barring propane distributors from discontinuing wintertime service to the more than 200,000 Minnesotans who use the gas to heat their homes is the centerpiece of legislation OK’d by a House committee Monday, though the bill met heavy resistance from industry representatives who said it does nothing to address the causes of this winter’s propane shortage and would harm providers.

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