This is an e-mail I got from a Republican running for Maine Congress...By Dean Scontras, Republican Candidate for Congress
11/13/2007 Special Edition to the Portland Press Herald
The governor of New York recently ignited a firestorm of outrage with an executive order to issue driver's licenses to illegal aliens. Fortunately, the people overwhelmingly rejected the governor's ill-advised plan. There is now talk in Albany of recalling the governor.
Last spring, the Washington political establishment was essentially overthrown when it tried to pass an amnesty bill for illegals. Enraged Americans of all political stripes jammed Capitol Hill switchboards to prevent that horrendous, 1,000- page bill from becoming law.
The American people have made it clear that they oppose granting rights to illegal aliens. That message has not penetrated the consciousness of the people who control the Legislature and the governor's mansion in Maine.
Most Mainers don't realize that our state already issues driver's licenses to people who are in the country illegally.
But the situation is even worse than that. There is no residency requirement.
We give out licenses to people who don't live in Maine -- who never have and never will.
Our policy is so lax and careless that foreign-language publications urge illegals to travel here to get a license.
Last summer the U.S. Attorney for the District of Maine began investigating cases of people being paid to bring illegal aliens to Maine specifically to get a driver's license.
U.S. Attorney Paula Silsby was quoted as saying she knew of cases in which illegal aliens had obtained Maine licenses and used them to buy guns and commit crimes.
A legal Maine resident applying for a license must supply a Social Security number.
Illegal aliens need not worry about that. Our policy allows them to enter the number 999-99-9999. If they pass the driving test, they get a license.
We have no idea if they are international fugitives or Hezbollah operatives, because staffers at Bureau of Motor Vehicles offices are not allowed to ask. Under an executive order by Gov. Baldacci, state employees are prohibited from inquiring about the immigration status of anyone applying for welfare benefits or licenses.
The problem is getting worse. In August 2006, there were 3,788 names in the motor vehicle registry with the 999-99-9999 identifier. There are now more than 5,300 such names on the list.
Apparently word is spreading that Maine is an "easy mark" for illegal aliens looking for licenses.
Maine Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap, who oversees the motor vehicle bureau, says this situation can't be improved because bureau employees are not immigration agents. Yet, 43 other states ban licenses for illegals, so obviously it can be done.
The problem is that state officials are adhering to the governor's order establishing Maine as a "sanctuary state" for illegal aliens.
In this age of terrorism, national security should be paramount. The Sept. 11, 2001, hijackers held 16 driver's licenses and 14 state-issued ID cards, enabling them to rent cars and apartments, open bank accounts, take flying lessons, board flights and blend into American society while they planned their attacks.
For illegals, a license opes the gate for welfare, Medicaid and other social services that cost taxpayers billions of dollars.
According to the National Academy of Sciences, each immigrant without a high school diploma will cost U.S. taxpayers an average of $89,000 over the course of a lifetime, more than the value of any taxes the immigrant will pay.
That does not include the cost of educating the immigrants' children, which U.S. taxpayers subsidize to the tune of $8 billion annually.
Food stamps and medical benefits for illegal aliens cost us $65 billion a year. And the cost of incarcerating illegal alien criminals adds billions more.
More than 100 years ago my grandparents entered this country through Ellis Island, legally, as did many of yours.
Maine needs to get back to first principles and ensure that our licenses are issued only to lawful U.S. residents who can prove that they live in Maine, and came here legally.
XXX
A third-generation Maine native born and raised in Kittery, Dean Scontras is the frontrunner for the Republican nomination in Maine's 1st Congressional District. Dean resides in Eliot with his wife Dawn and their two children, Jack and Zoe.Dean is available for interviews on this critical issue. To arrange an interview, please e-mail
press@teamdean08.com, or call Campaign Manager Michael Pajak at (207) 807-0994. For more information on the Dean Scontras for Congress campaign, please visit Dean Scontras.
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