Assemblyman Bill Reilich (R,C,I-Greece) blasted the Assembly Majority for not supporting legislation that would have blocked the governor’s radical DMV policy during yesterday’s special session.
“I am appalled by the lack of political courage that the Assembly Majority showed during today’s special session and their cavalier attitude toward the safety and security needs of our state and nation,” said Reilich. “It is unfortunate that the Assembly Majority has decided to block legislation that would make America safer and turn an issue of security into a partisan one.”
To block the governor’s reckless DMV policy, Assemblyman Reilich and his Assembly Minority colleagues supported a measure requiring all applicants for a driver’s license to submit proof of fitness, age, photos, proof of identity, Social Security number or proof of ineligibility to the Department of Motor Vehicles. The Assembly Majority voted down the proposal, claiming it was not germane to the bill before the house.
“This is the same game that the Assembly Majority used to block civil confinement in the past and, quite frankly, I don’t think the people of New York state are fooled by these tactics,” remarked Reilich. “If enough Assembly Majority members had the political courage to stand up to the governor and their leadership, then we would have been able to block the governor’s proposal. My colleagues and I will not be deterred by this setback and will continue to fight by filing a lawsuit if he does not rescind his irresponsible policy by October 31, 2007.”