Press Release- Jun 01, 2007
OFFICE OF GOV. BILL RITTER, JR.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
FRIDAY, JUNE 1, 2007
Contact:
Evan Dreyer, 720.350.8370
GOV. RITTER'S VETO MESSAGE ON HOUSE BILL 1313
June 1, 2007
Honorable Colorado House of Representatives
66th General Assembly
First Regular Session
State Capitol
Denver, CO 80203
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am filing with the Secretary of State House Bill 07-1313, "Concerning the evidence required before a person may be issued certain identity documents." I vetoed this bill as of _____ __.m. today and this letter sets forth my reasons for doing so.
The opportunity to obtain a driver's license or state-issued identification card is not a mere convenience, but a virtual necessity. These documents have become the key to obtaining basic services and a prerequisite for engaging in otherwise routine transactions. As a practical matter, a driver's license or state-issued identification card is needed to obtain most public benefits, secure employment, apply to rent a house or apartment, or open a bank account.
Under the previous administration, the Driver's License Section of the Division of Motor Vehicles had rules and guidelines in place that unduly restricted access to driver's licenses and identification cards by drastically limiting the documents an applicant could use to obtain such documents. Indeed, Coloradans who had valid passports and other widely accepted identification documents were repeatedly turned away when they applied for a Colorado driver's license or identification card. In short, as a direct result of these rules, Coloradans who were legally entitled to obtain a driver's license or state identification card could not readily do so. The impact of these overly-restrictive rules was borne disproportionately by the elderly, the homeless, the transient, and the poor, many of whom have difficulty accessing traditional identification documents and are in the greatest need of public services.
Since taking office, my administration has listened closely to those who raised valid concerns about the previous administration's rules and practices. Yesterday the Department of Revenue, with my support and approval, promulgated final rules for proof of age, identity, and lawful presence by driver's license and identification card applicants. Once these rules take effect, the list of secure and verifiable documents that may be used to obtain a driver's license or state-issued identification card will be expanded, without compromising security.
Regrettably, the General Assembly did not have the benefit of reviewing these final rules before deciding whether a statutory fix was necessary. I understand why the sponsors and supporters of House Bill 1313 pursued legislation to remedy the problems created by the previous administration's overly restrictive rules and practices. My administration failed to clearly and consistently articulate my strongly-held belief that a legislative fix is not the proper remedy to this problem. My decision to veto this bill is based on the fact that, though its goals were laudable, House Bill 1313 would have supplanted the Department of Revenue's rulemaking authority.
I recognize the disappointment of those who have tirelessly advocated for a fix to this problem. But I believe that my administration¿s rules achieve the result that the advocates and sponsors of House Bill 1313 were pursuing. In the end, my decision is based on the belief that the problem of providing secure access to identification is best solved through administrative rulemaking, not legislative action.
Accordingly, I have vetoed this bill.
Sincerely,
Bill Ritter, Jr.
Governor