"There seems to be a great deal of confusion as to the recent announcement by United States Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff that somehow, someway, he endorsed Governor Eliot Spitzer's plan to give illegal aliens driver's licenses. This is clearly not the case. In his own statement, Secretary Chertoff indicated his opposition to providing illegal aliens with driver's licenses.

Indeed, Secretary Chertoff said that he 'does not endorse giving licenses to people who are not here legally,' that it is a decision left up to the respective states. But we already know that 72 percent of New Yorkers are already opposed to illegal aliens receiving the privilege of a driver's license. Sadly, the Spitzer Administration is trying to imply that Secretary Chertoff has endorsed their plan to give illegal aliens driver's licenses. He has not. To imply otherwise is disingenuous, misleading and an insult to the intelligence of all New Yorkers.

The public should not let this Houdini-like smoke and mirrors interpretation by Governor Spitzer suggest anything other than the fact that he wants to give those who have broken the law a privilege afforded to other citizens."