GOV. SCHWARZENEGGER VETOES DRIVER’S LICENSE BILL:

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed a bill by Senator Gil Cedillo (D-Los Angeles) that would allow undocumented aliens access to California driver’s licenses, according to the Pasadena Star-News. AB 2895 is essentially an amended version of last year’s SB 60 (also authored by Cedillo), which was approved by former Governor Gray Davis and subsequently rescinded by the Legislature this year under pressure from the governor. Sponsors of AB 2895 said they amended the bill to address security concerns of law enforcement, including a requirement that drivers who cannot prove legal residency submit fingerprints, undergo background checks and be sponsored by an adult with a valid California driver’s license. Additionally, screeners would have been mandated to check the applicant’s name to see if they are on the Department of Homeland Security’s terrorism watch list. Opponents of the bill have stated they would press for a ballot initiative restricting driver’s licenses to legal California residents.