Earlier today, the MA House passed the Work & Family Mobility Act, which would allow any qualified driver—regardless of immigration status—to obtain a driver’s license, by an overwhelming, veto-proof margin of 120 to 36.
The success was the testament to the hard work of the Driving Families Forward coalition, led by SEIU 32BJ and the Brazilian Workers Center, as well as bill sponsors Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier (D-Pittsfield) and Christine Barber (D-Somerville).
Sixteen states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico already allow residents the right to apply for driver’s licenses regardless of immigration status, including our neighbors New York, Vermont, and Connecticut. And Massachusetts is poised to be next.
The bill is a win-win all around. It recognizes the essential contributions of our immigrant brothers and sisters, who often depend on a car to get to work, to school, to the hospital, etc. Immigration status shouldn’t be a barrier to getting a license. The bill would help make the roads safer for all, lower insurance rates, bring in more revenue for the state (through license fees), and strengthen our economy.
Despite the clear case for the bill and the proven results in other states, every Republican voted against it, and they were joined by Democrats Mark Cusack (D-Braintree), Colleen Garry (D-Dracut), Patrick Kearney (D-Scituate), Christopher Markey (D-Dartmouth), Brian Murray (D-Milford), Dave Robertson (D-Tewksbury), Jeff Turco (D-Winthrop), and Thomas Walsh (D-Peabody).
During the floor debate, the House rejected two amendments from Republican Minority Leader Brad Jones (R-North Reading): one (#5) that sought to fear-monger around the idea of undocumented immigrants voting because of being able to obtain a driver’s license (a dishonest misinterpretation of the Automatic Voter Registration policy and the Senate’s proposed Same Day Registration language) and a second (#6) that sought to give law enforcement unfettered access to RMV documents. Both failed on identical 31-125 votes, with Garry, Kearney, and Robertson joining Republicans in voting for them.
If your state rep voted yes, thank them for doing so! Positive reinforcement is critical.
If your state rep voted no, express your disappointment with their vote.
So what comes next?
The bill now goes to the State Senate. Email your state senator to vote YES and to urge the bill to be taken up as soon as possible!
