Fallout Continues from Spitzer's Licensing Plan

New York, NY —

The fallout over Governor Eliot Spitzer's controversial drivers' license plan has put many of New York state's top politicians in awkward positions. WNYC's Elaine Rivera reports:

Spitzer's evolving plan to give undocumented immigrants valid drivers' licenses has politicians of all stripes fuming, stumbling and shifting. Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who was slammed by immigrant groups for opposing the governor's original plan, cautiously endorsed Spitzer's decision to go to a three-tiered license system. Senator Hillary Clinton was strongly criticized by her Democratic rivals during Tuesday night's presidential debate for her evasive response on the issue. And several state legislators who supported his original policy to give everyone the same license say they feel disappointed and betrayed.

Spitzer continues to defend the new regulations saying as governor he has to deal with the reality of nearly a million illegal immigrants living in the state. For WNYC, I'm Elaine Rivera.