PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - A Rhode Island Senate panel has rejected a proposal to grant driver’s licenses to immigrants who are in the country illegally.
The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 6-4 Thursday to reject the bill after a lengthy hearing and years of debate in the Democratic-controlled Legislature.
It was a rare decision on legislation that’s typically held indefinitely for study. The vote effectively ends this year’s debate.
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Voting against granting the licenses were Senate Judiciary Chairwoman Erin Lynch Prata, of Warwick; and Sens. Stephen Archambault, of Smithfield; Cynthia Coyne, of Barrington; Frank Lombardi, of Cranston; Leonidas Raptakis, of Coventry; and Mark Gee, of East Greenwich. All but Gee are Democrats.
Voting in favor of the licenses were four Democrats: Paul Jabour, Harold Metts and Maryellen Goodwin, all of Providence; and Donna Nesselbush, of Pawtucket.
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