Republicans Happy With Spitzer’s Reversal

WNYC News | Jul 12, 2010

New York, NY —

New York's Republicans were jubilant yesterday after Governor Spitzer announced he would abandon the proposal he hoped would bring undocumented immigrants "out of the shadows" by giving them driver's licenses.

REPORTER: One of the plan's biggest critics - Assembly Minority Leader Jim Tedisco - was worried that the proposal could make it easier for terrorists to get ID's. He says Spitzer was smart to back down.

TEDISCO: There's no question this is a victory, but the people who should be taking a victory lap around the capitol building in Albany. There are the 18.5 million citizens of New York state who stood up and spoke out, wrote letters, sent the e-mails, phoned the governor.

REPORTER: Spitzer says divisive partisan rhetoric fueled the public's disapproval.

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