Assembly Republicans To File License Lawsuit

ALBANY — Senate Republicans promised yesterday to delay or derail Governor Spitzer's new plan to make it easier to issue driver's licenses to illegal immigrants. Meanwhile, Republicans in the Assembly's minority said they will file a lawsuit today to stop Mr. Spitzer's "illegal plan," which was announced Saturday. The Republican leader of the Assembly, James Tedisco, said it would "make our state and nation a less secure, less safe place."

While the GOP-led Senate said it will continue trying to block the license program through legislation, and may deny funds in the 2008-09 budget, the Democrat-led Assembly has no plans to oppose the Democratic governor's plan.

Republican senators had just as many objections to the new plan for three levels of licensing as they did to a single-license plan announced in September, but their latest arguments focused on national security.