Immigration Enforcement Killed, English-Only Drivers License Exam Also Fails

In an openly partisan slap, Democrats in the Tennessee House killed two bills that had passed full floor votes in the Republican-led Senate.

A bill to require drivers’ license exams in English only narrowly failed in the House Transportation subcommittee late yesterday. Members brought in Speaker Jimmy Naifeh, an ex-officio member of all House committees, to give them enough votes to stymie the English-only bill.

Before the same measure passed the Senate, Republican Bill Ketron of Murfreesboro made amendments until it merely restated what the Safety Department already does.

Another bill to allow the Highway Patrol federal immigration law enforcement power also died, six to four. The Bredesen administration already plans to carry out most of its provisions. State Representative Delores Gresham, a Republican from Somerville who sponsored the bill, says she thought Democratic leadership and the governor support local immigration powers.

“He showed such enthusiasm when the Metro sheriff entered into a 287 G memorandum of agreement with Homeland Security. In fact I remember a picture of him and the Sheriff in the Tennessean back in the summer, so I am really surprised that the dynamics were such as they were today.”

The actions of the Democratic leadership in killing the two bills signaled to the Republican majority in the Senate that not every issue will get bipartisan support this session.

Senate Passes Immigration Enforcement for THP 3/20/07 

Senate Passes English-Only Driver Tests with Exceptions 3/06/07