N.C. Road Funds Threatened if State Continues to Give Illegals Licenses

Citing national security, Rep. Sue Myrick of Charlotte introduced legislation Wednesday that would deny North Carolina all its $890 million in federal highway money unless it stops issuing driver's licenses to illegal immigrants.

Her bill targets six states that still accept taxpayer ID numbers from the Internal Revenue Service as proof of identity or residence by those seeking licenses. The others are West Virginia, Illinois, New Mexico, Kentucky and Utah, her office said.

Myrick, a Republican who is looking at a run for governor in 2008, focused on her home state -- particularly Democrats who run state government in Raleigh.

"Basically, we're here to call on the governor (Mike Easley) and the legislature in North Carolina to stop issuing driver's licenses to illegal aliens," said Myrick, who was joined at a news conference by GOP Reps. Patrick McHenry of Cherryville and Virginia Foxx of Banner Elk.

In fact, the state is already heading in the direction Myrick wants.

"The governor already handled this," said Easley spokeswoman Sherri Johnson. At his direction, she said, the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles worked with the General Assembly on a measure to stop allowing taxpayer IDs to obtain a license.

The state Senate approved it, and it's given a good chance of passing in the House when the legislature returns in May.

Given that forecast, Myrick's action Wednesday drew a rebuke from the office of N.C. Senate President Pro Tem Marc Basnight, D-Dare.