Oh, those crazy, wacky New York Democrats. As we go into the final weeks of our state election that includes the Governor, the Dems in our legislature have just doubled down on stupid. Well, I guess that's just my opinion. To their credit they have managed to marginalize the Republican party in New York even though the Republicans hold the majority in the state Senate by one vote. In what these knuckleheads think will win them lots of votes, the senate Dems have introduced a bill in the Senate called "New York Is Home".
This bill proposed in June would create a state-level amnesty that would effectively make all illegal immigrants, and pretty much anyone who happens to cross the state line, a citizen of the State of New York. It would bar police from releasing any citizenship status information to the feds unless it involves "a criminal warrant unrelated to their immigration status", allow non-citizens to obtain professional licenses and permits, drivers' licenses, serving on juries, and bestows voting rights in local and state elections including running for local and state office, though federal law would still prohibit non-citizens legal or illegal from voting in our federal elections. As reported in the NY Post, the key sponsor are Brooklyn Assemblyman Karim Camara said that taking back the Senate is the key to getting this passed. The Senate sponsor Bronx Sen. Gustavo Rivera likens the proposed measure to the campaigns to legalize same-sex marriage and medical marijuana", both which passed and have been signed into law by Gov. Cuomo in the last few years.
If this gains local media traction, it might just backfire on the Dems. The two legislators who sponsored the bill represent "downstate" districts in NYC and those who represent "downstate" forget that "upstate" voters are not quite so liberal. Already the few competitive Republicans have been using this against their Dem opponents. It will only get louder and more ugly.
To be honest, my head nearly exploded when I first read this in the Post. But on second-sight, I am thrilled that the Dems have done this. It may just make this otherwise boring election cycle in New York more interesting.
Any thoughts or feelings?
This bill proposed in June would create a state-level amnesty that would effectively make all illegal immigrants, and pretty much anyone who happens to cross the state line, a citizen of the State of New York. It would bar police from releasing any citizenship status information to the feds unless it involves "a criminal warrant unrelated to their immigration status", allow non-citizens to obtain professional licenses and permits, drivers' licenses, serving on juries, and bestows voting rights in local and state elections including running for local and state office, though federal law would still prohibit non-citizens legal or illegal from voting in our federal elections. As reported in the NY Post, the key sponsor are Brooklyn Assemblyman Karim Camara said that taking back the Senate is the key to getting this passed. The Senate sponsor Bronx Sen. Gustavo Rivera likens the proposed measure to the campaigns to legalize same-sex marriage and medical marijuana", both which passed and have been signed into law by Gov. Cuomo in the last few years.
If this gains local media traction, it might just backfire on the Dems. The two legislators who sponsored the bill represent "downstate" districts in NYC and those who represent "downstate" forget that "upstate" voters are not quite so liberal. Already the few competitive Republicans have been using this against their Dem opponents. It will only get louder and more ugly.
To be honest, my head nearly exploded when I first read this in the Post. But on second-sight, I am thrilled that the Dems have done this. It may just make this otherwise boring election cycle in New York more interesting.
Any thoughts or feelings?
There are legals in New York? Who knew? ;-)
ReplyDeleteSo we're going back to the days when you could skirt the law if you could just make the state line. How progressive.
ReplyDeleteNon-citizens voting and sitting on juries? This is going to blow up in the Democrats' faces. The only question is when.
ReplyDeleteYes, Anthony, but that may be in the extreme. And on the voting issue, our ballots, like I am sure they are in every district, have local, state and federal candidates. So I am not exactly sure how they are going to distinguish who is allowed to vote for what. Separate lines, ballot forms.
ReplyDeleteAndrew - HAH! Yes we have "legals" who come from other states just to vote. Our residency laws are very fluid. You can walk up to any polling place and fill out a application on the spot to vote if you have a piece of paper with your name and a local address on it. They will verify it at some other date in the future maybe if someone asks. Only in New York, kids, only in New York.
ReplyDeleteBut then again, only 400K bothered to vote in the NY Democratic primary last week, so I imagine that not even illegals vote much. There was no real Republican primary because no one actually bothers to run in many districts. There was only one Republican who even wanted to run for governor against Cuomo - Rob Astorino. It was kind of like "I don't want to do it. YOU do it! Yeah let's get Rob Astorino. He'll run for anything! Hey, Robbie!" Actually he's a very good candidate and not a whackadoodle. He will not win though unless Cuomo is indicted on obstruction like the US Attorney wants to.
Tryanmax - I do not think NY has ever NOT been a place where one can skirt the law by crossing into our state. In all my life I have never seen such blatant corruption and just plain theft of tax payers. And our elected officials are proud of their behavior. It really is Boss Tweed and Tammany Hall all over again.
ReplyDeleteBev, This sounds like an opportunity. The GOP in the surrounding states should organize field trips to NY on election day. Just claim you are illegal and they won't even ask for an address!
ReplyDeleteAndrew!
ReplyDeleteThat would be voter fraud!
Kit, Not in New York apparently.
ReplyDelete