OCPA column: Time to address illegal immigration, uninsured drivers [by giving lawbreakers licenses]

OCPA really is doubling down on giving drivers licenses to illegal immigrants (by definition, repeat lawbreakers). So much for believing in the rule of law, eh?

Time to address illegal immigration, uninsured drivers

By Jonathan Small

There’s a link between illegal immigration and uninsured driving in Oklahoma. Those who enter our nation illegally cannot easily obtain auto insurance, yet they still drive on our roads every day. When those illegal immigrants are in a car accident, the other driver is then left footing the bill either out of pocket or through higher insurance premiums.

The best solution to this problem is for the federal government to control our nation’s borders. But, knowing that is not likely in the immediate future, state policymakers must take action to mitigate the harm caused by the federal government’s failure.

One way to reduce a share of the problems created by illegal immigration is for Oklahoma state lawmakers to authorize driver’s licenses for some illegal immigrants—even though that may sound counterintuitive.

OCPA supports drivers licenses for illegals because they're "already driving on our roads"

I admit to being somewhat baffled about the state of the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs in recent years.

I was troubled by the antagonism and outright hostility they displayed toward valid concerns by the homeschool community last year when OCPA was pushing a "school choice" bill by Sen. Greg Treat. This was followed by the stunning announcement that OCPA supports expanding the sales tax to include services in Oklahoma, a multi-billion dollar tax hike primarily on the backs of small businesses.

Now? OCPA is seemingly abandoning all good sense and advocating in favor of giving drivers licenses to illegal immigrants because... "these people are already driving on our roads" and pay taxes?

There's been some serious compromise on their espoused conservative principles, and my bet is that it's likely driven by the folks with the purse strings that keep their lights on (for example, they've received millions over the years from groups like the Walton Family Foundation, which advocates liberal views of immigration).

Tremendously disappointing.

Read on for to see the serious disconnect in OCPA's logic for yourself: