Assemblyman Michael Fitzpatrick (R,C,I-Smithtown) today said that the governor’s withdrawal of his plan to provide driver’s licenses to illegal aliens was the right thing to do and a victory for residents throughout the state. Fitzpatrick said the Governor’s decision to concede the policy change would keep essential security measures in place.

“The governor’s plan to provide illegal aliens with driver’s licenses would undermine essential security measures put in place for our protection,” said Fitzpatrick. “This is a victory for every resident who voiced their opposition to this potentially dangerous plan. The added risk of voter fraud in the upcoming 2008 election via the motor voter registration program also raised serious concerns.”

The governor’s most recent plan included a three-tier system, with one license complying with the Real ID act, another that could be used to board aircraft and cross the border, and a third for illegal aliens with the moniker “not for federal identification purposes.” While federal law grants states the leeway to decide their own course of action on driver’s licenses, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff voiced his strong objection to providing driver’s licenses to illegal aliens.

“Our opposition, from the beginning, has been a matter of public security,” said Fitzpatrick. “We can now move forward and work on the other pressing issues facing our state.”