Dems say no to immigrant voting idea

WTNH TV

Updated: Dec 16, 2011 5:17 PM

Hartford, Conn. (WTNH) — New Haven's Mayor is getting bashed by his own party after proposing to allow illegal immigrants the right to vote.

Top Democrats are telling mayor John DeStefano to back off on the controversial issue.

Most Democrats enthusiastically supported the law to allow the children of people here illegally to go to state schools and pay the in-state tuition rates, but they say voting is another matter.

Democratic Governor Dannel Malloy, the Democratic Speaker of the House, Chris Donovan, and the Democratic Majority Leader of the State Senate, Martin Looney are all telling DeStefano to forget about it.
       
Earlier this week, Malloy said that he was not comfortable with DeStefano's proposal. On Friday, he appeared even more stand offish to the idea.

"I'm doing my best to honor a willingness to hear other ideas, but nothing I've read or heard thus far would convince me to support such a law," said Malloy.
       
Republicans in the General Assembly are chomping at the bit in hopes that any Democrat would introduce the idea.

"I'd like to see some Democrats come out in favor of it because I think it would put them in very bad shape for the elections," said Senator Joe Markley.

"If you've come to this country in violation of law, nothing could be more offensive than to grant you the privilege that soldiers have fought and died to protect," said Sen. Andrew Roraback.

But perhaps most telling for the New Haven Mayor is that Martin Looney, the most prominent state legislator from New Haven, said no thanks.

"That is probably a non starter, won't get any traction in the current session, which is a short session," Looney said.

"I believe that as well, there are more serious issues we're facing and also, I think we need a broad immigration policy, and um this idea just won't fly," said Donovan.

"For one thing, it may actually require a Constitutional Amendment rather than a statutory change," said Looney.
      
That type of move is reserved for very popular proposals, such as when the voting age was lowered to 18-year-old during the Vietnam War. Then, 18-year-olds were drafted into Army, but couldn't vote.

There already is a law on the books in Connecticut that allows non United States citizens who are here legally, and who own more than $1,000 worth of property to vote on municipal budget issues.

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