Negotiations continue at the State Capitol this afternoon on a REAL ID bill, with the big sticking-point being drivers licenses for illegal immigrants. House Speaker Kurt Daudt notes that Governor Mark Dayton said he does not have the authority to authorize those licenses, so “he should have no problem with us putting the understanding that he has into the bill.” Dayton responds undocumented immigrants currently can’t get drivers licenses and there’s no need to put it in the bill. Buyt the governor adds, “Eventually I’m gonna have to sign it, or Minnesotans aren’t gonna be able to get on an airpline on January 22nd of next year.”
Republicans don’t trust Dayton’s motives, because he’s said illegal immigrants should be able to get drivers licenses in Minnesota. Daudt says if the governor believes he cannot through rulemaking allow undocumented immigrants to get drivers licenses, then he should have no problem having it stated in the bill. “It would simply provide comfort language that what the governor says is what the governor actually believes,” Daudt says.
Gov. Dayton’s comments from last Thursday:
Speaker Daudt’s comments: