Having voted against illegal aliens receiving in-state tuition and tuition assistance, the 9th District Delegation will be voting against providing driver’s licenses to persons in our country illegally if and when the bill is voted on by the State Legislature.

Senator Christopher J. Connors, Assemblyman Brian E. Rumpf and Assemblywoman DiAnne C. Gove have been sharply critical of the introduction of companion legislation A-1738 and S-1340 entitled the “New Jersey Safe and Responsible Driver Act,” which would establish driver’s licenses for New Jersey residents who “cannot prove lawful presence in the United States.”

Connors, Rumpf and Gove issued the following statement upon receiving complaints from outraged constituents regarding the state’s increasing efforts to expand services for illegal aliens:

“Essential programs and services for legal residents are on the chopping block all while the needs of illegal aliens continue to be prioritized.

“First it was in-state tuition, then tuition assistance and now there’s an effort to give illegal aliens driver’s licenses. The price tag of these policies keeps rising for taxpayers but not for the persons who are mostly benefitting.

“If things weren’t hard enough, parents now see their children having to compete with persons in our state illegally for seats at state colleges as well as for tuition assistance. Now residents face the prospect of waiting longer in the MVC line while illegal aliens are applying for a driver’s license with limited identification documents, such as the ones legal residents are required to produce.

“Notwithstanding that this is an inappropriate use of limited public resources, there are the serious homeland security issues at stake which simply cannot be disregarded for the sake of political expediency. No, not every person in the country illegally is a security threat. Regardless, it would be completely irresponsible and negligent for New Jersey to circumvent proven, effective policies instituted to protect public safety.

“Since this issue was first raised during the Corzine Administration, our Delegation has maintained its vehement opposition to giving driver’s licenses to illegal aliens. Now that establishing New Jersey as a sanctuary state is all but Trenton’s endorsed policy, it is important residents prepare for this policy debate so that the rights of legal residents are respected.”