MAYVILLE – The Chautauqua County Legislature has unanimously approved two motions voicing opposition to a current state law involving drivers licenses for non-U.S. citizens, as well as a proposal to develop wind turbines in the waters of Lake Erie.
The opposition to the so called Green Light NY Act, which allows migrants to get a state drivers license despite not being U.S. citizens, was sponsored by Legislator Terry Niebel (R-Dunkirk). Prior to Wednesday’s vote, Neibel explained his concerns and opposition to the new state law before the vote on the motion took place.
“It puts a tremendous burden on local county clerks. It asks them to verify foreign birth certificates and foreign passports and documentations in dozens of different languages,” Neibel noted, adding, “According to election law, a driver’s license is still a form of identification used in voting. Really what we are doing is we are opening ourselves to potential voter fraud.”
The motion eventually was approved 18-0.
Lawmakers also approved a motions in opposition to construct wind turbine farms on Lake Erie – which was sponsored by both Democrat and Republican lawmakers from the Dunkirk area. One of those lawmakers was Kevin Muldowney (R-Dunkirk).
“We’re a lake front community. We’re in Chautauqua County. We have some beautiful, natural sunsets. I just think that somebody has the nerve to come along and put windmills along our beautiful, natural lake front is just something where we all should just stand up to and say no,” Muldowney said.
Although Muldowney’s concerns were focused on the lake front, some proposals for Wind Turbines call for the projects to be located several miles off shore in the open waters of the lake. Still, that didn’t prevent those in opposition to voice their concerns about possible contamination of water and disruption of bird and fish habitat. As a result, the motion was unanimously approved 18 to 0.
Both motions will be sent to state officials in Albany – including the Governor – to make them aware that the county government does not support either policy.
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