Nunez Pushes for DL Bill

01.30.12 (LAS CRUCES) -- New Mexico State Representative Andy Nunez, an Independent from Hatch is continuing his fight this week to overturn the controversial law on driver's licenses.

Just last week in Santa Fe, lawmakers rejected a bill, which would have put an end to issuing driver's licenses to illegal individuals. The proposed legislation introduced by Nunez failed on a 5-4 party line vote. After much debate, the measure was replaced with a substitute bill allowing undocumented individuals to get a driver's licenses with only a two-year limit and increase felony penalties for those convicted of getting driver's licenses illegally. However, the compromise didn't make it and was voted down. Nunez told us he plans to line up votes in the full House of Representatives this week asking lawmakers to accept his original bill instead.

"I'm a Hispanic and its not about that. It's all about public safety and they just don't understand that and some of them will say that and there's a few of them that still think it is and it has nothing to do with race. That's why I say we have from Poland, China, Germany, Brazil, the East Indies and everywhere else. How can it be racist? They are trying to say its anti-Mexican but its not," he said.

Reported by Carlos Correa

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