NY Won't Give Licenses to Illegal Immigrants

Bowing to intense political pressure, New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer has dropped plans to give illegal immigrants drivers' licenses.

In an interview with the New York Times, Spitzer said the decision wasn't easy. "I am not willing to fight to the bitter end on something that will not ultimately be implemented, and we also have an enormous agenda on other issues of great importance to New York State that was being stymied by the constant and almost singular focus on this issue," he told the paper.Spitzer's decision is hardly a shock. A poll by Siena College found that two-thirds of New Yorkers who heard about his plan, opposed it and his job approval rating was in the toilet. It's too bad that Spitzer backed away from what is a good idea. It's too bad that Hillary Clinton didn't have the guts to say so at the recent debate in Philadelphia.

Undocumented workers are driving on U.S. roads anyway without insurance, so denying them licenses is ludicrous. It only makes the roads less safe for everyone. State officials have neither the time nor the expertise to enforce federal immigration laws.