If Senate Bill 833 becomes law, Oregon will join a few other states in granting driver's licenses to people not legally in our country. Debate on this bill, which passed the state Senate on Tuesday and now moves to the House, is understandably emotional and personal for those seeking the licenses. The same applies to folks who've witnessed what happens when driving privileges are extended to the wrong people....
Testimony from the Oregon Association of Nurseries, a key backer of SB833, talks about public safety and how loosening rules for obtaining a license would reduce the number of uninsured drivers. The fact is that since the law was changed, the Oregon Department of Transportation says, the "before and after changes in driver licensing requirements show no apparent impact on unlicensed/uninsured driving."...
Read Rep. Thatcher's complete guest commentary.
Republican Kim Thatcher represents Keizer in the Oregon House of Representatives.