Herald Sun: Letter to the Editor
media mentionLet’s step aside from heated immigration debate for a moment and pragmatically deconstruct the merits of House Bill 328. The “Highway Safety/Citizens Protection Act” provides an avenue for undocumented immigrants with non-criminal backgrounds to obtain state-issued driver’s licenses.
Opponents argue this legislation incentivizes illegal immigration, which could further deplete already sparse state resources. The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy reports that in 2014 undocumented immigrants paid $278 million in sales, property and income taxes. How much more revenue could be generated if 325,000 residents have the opportunity and obligation to license, register and insure their vehicles?