Gil Cedillo might soon get Moter Voter cards driver's licenses into the hands of illegal aliens. The CA Assembly has just passed another bill into which SB1160 - the previous driver's license bill - had been inserted. Now it goes to the governor to be signed into law or vetoed. (Latest report here, out-of-date reports here and here).

Arnold Schwarzenegger has previously said he'd veto SB1160 in its current form; after the bill was passed Arnold reiterated his intent to veto the bill.

Only one problem: Arnold is out of town, and unrepentant MEChA member Cruz Bustamante is our acting governor. And, long-time Californians will remember Mike Curb. From this 10/28/03 article:

Lieutenant governors have taken varying degrees of liberty with their powers over the years.

The most extreme in recent history was Republican Lt. Gov. Mike Curb, who appointed an appellate judge while Gov. Jerry Brown was out of state exploring a presidential run in 1979.

Brown was able to withdraw the nominations, only to have Curb resubmit them the next time he left California.

Will Bustamante try a Mike Curb?

Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante said he would "not be a Mike Curb."

"He feels it is unseemly for the acting governor to act like the governor, " said Bustamante spokesman Ardie Zahedani.

That's what he said then. Will he make an exception? If he does, will Arnold immediately overturn his decision? Could it all have been an Arnold-"One Bill Gil" conspiracy that would allow the bill to be signed into law while giving Arnold plausible deniability? When exactly will the bill be submitted to the governor's office, while he's away or will it take a week and will Arnold be back by that time? Stay tuned.

If this bill passes, expect a very large backlash that would hopefully end a few careers.

You can call Arnold at 916-445-2841. He previously had had an automated poll that would allow you to vote on whether illegal aliens should have driver's licenses. However, strangely enough, the poll seems to have been removed. Nevertheless, you can still call 24/7 and leave a message. Or, send an email to governor@governor.ca.gov

UPDATE 2: There's a more recent AP report here. The L.A. Times weighs in with "Driver's License Bill Clears Legislature but Faces Veto", which includes this laughable bit among others:

Cedillo also included a number of efforts intended to be conciliatory toward critics who said having licenses would make undocumented immigrants think they could serve on juries, vote or buy a gun: The bill would ensure that the names of illegal immigrants not be sent to court clerks for jury pools, and would provide all licensees with a form underscoring the prohibitions.

Like as not, the form with the prohibitions would remind the "immigrant" to pick up his Motor Voter form.