Politics & Government

Orange State Reps Split on Illegal Immigrant License Bill

But House still passes legislation to allow undocumented immigrants to get a Connecticut driver's license.

By Jason Bagley and Eileen McNamara

Amid reported political rancor, the state House Thursday agreed that undocumented immigrants can get a Connecticut driver's license.

The House voted 74 to 55 on the measure. Total votes necessary for passage was 65.

Most voting in favor of the bill were Democrats while Republicans largely opposed the measure.

State Representatives for Orange followed that trend, with Democrats Paul Davis and James Maroney supporting the bill and Republican Themis Klarides voting against it.

Earlier in the day the House voted 132-0 in favor of a bill that would limit how state and local police officers can hold illegal immigrants for deportation, the Connecticut Mirror website reports. 

The Senate, where Democrats hold a clear majority, votes next on both bills. If they pass, and Gov. Dannel P. Malloy signs them into law, Connecticut would join a small number of states to allow licenses to undocumented immigrants. Malloy has said he supports the license measure. 

The state's Office of Legislative Research estimates that 54,000 immigrants could obtain licenses under the bill over the next three years, the Mirror reports.


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