02/02/10

BOISE, Idaho (AP) _ Cesar Penasiel arrived in Boise in December,
fleeing political unrest in his native Columbia only to learn what
most U.S. teenagers know instinctively: Real American freedom is
found behind the wheel of a car.

For legal refugees like Penasiel, jobs are often hourly and
miles away, so the ability to travel to-and-from work sites is a
must.

He quickly got his Idaho license after passing the written test
in Spanish, one of eight languages in which it's currently offered.

Under a proposal now in the Idaho Senate, however, he would have
been restricted to a written test in English.

At least 10 states now offer English-only driver's license
tests.

The bill in Idaho is being pushed by Sen. Mike Jorgenson, a
Hayden Lake Republican and passionate anti-illegal immigration
advocate.

Much of his bill targets employers who knowingly hire illegal
workers; Jorgenson says he hadn't considered what effect his
English-only provisions might have on legal migrants who want to
drive.


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