The marching orders were given and the Democrats marched to Spitzer and Silvers command. How sad that these supposed “Lawmakers” have no problem violating laws and allowing the governor to force upon us what 73% of the people of New York do not want.. From Western New York we have Hoyt, Delmonte, Schimminger, Schroeder voting in favor of the governors plan or should I say voting not to vote on allowing debate… Either way they are not listening and refuse to listen to the people.

Assembly Democrats reject license vote

ALBANY - Democrats in the state Assembly rejected attempts by Assembly Republicans on Tuesday to call for a vote on Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s controversial plan to offer drivers’ licenses to illegal immigrants.

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, D-Manhattan, said it would be premature to vote on the contentious issue.

“This is a deliberative process here. The minority is attempting to jump-start and change the process,” Silver said before a special session at the state Capitol.

Assembly Republicans tried a variety of parliamentary tactics to prod the Democratic majority to take a vote on a bill that would require Social Security numbers or other identification to prove legal status in the U.S.

Spitzer’s policy would allow illegal immigrants to show foreign passports and other documents to obtain drivers’ licenses, no longer requiring Social Security numbers.

But the chamber voted 85-57 that the Republicans’ attempt to attach their bill to the reauthorization of a sales-tax bill for Suffolk County was not germane. So the attempt failed, even though 17 Democrats — including Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo, D-Endwell — voted with the GOP.

“I voted in favor of the amendment in order to reflect the concerns of my constituents who are not comfortable with the new driver’s license policy,” said Lupardo in a written statement. “My vote also sends a message that full public debate is needed on this issue.”

The Republicans also failed to get votes on bills that would indemnify counties and county clerks if they are sued by the state for not following the policy and to increase the middle-class property tax rebate.

Assembly Minority Leader James Tedisco, R-Schenectady, ripped the Assembly for rejecting the bills, saying that a majority of New Yorkers in recent polls also oppose the governor’s policy.

“The Democrats’ reasoning - if you can call it that - for blocking our amendment was a sham, a farce, a joke,” he said.

“Worse yet, it was a slap in the face to every single New Yorker who rejects Gov. Spitzer’s risky, reckless and irresponsible plan.”

So a special session that was initially billed as a way to give final passage to a host of issues devolved mainly into a debate on the drivers’ license policy.

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