Democrats in the state Senate have failed in their attempt to restore funding for a program that issues drivers licenses to undocumented immigrants. The money was originally blocked by Republicans on the Joint Budget Committee and the GOP-controlled full Senate signed off on that move Thursday on a party line vote.
Democratic Sen. Jessie Ulibarri argued lawmakers approved the program in 2013 and they shouldn't undermine it through the budget process. Fees cover the cost of the program, "and now we’re holding those dollars hostage," he says. Republican Sen. Kevin Grantham countered that position by saying, "I, for one, did not come here to rubber stamp things."
