HARTFORD — State Rep. Themis Klarides (R-114) spoke out today against the hurried and sloppy technique majority legislators used to craft and force through a controversial bill allowing undocumented immigrants to attain driving privileges.

The bill, which was called for debate by Democratic legislators after 10:00pm, would grant undocumented immigrants the privilege to obtain a Connecticut driver’s license starting in 2015.

“The process by which this measure came through the legislature has been, frankly, irresponsible and disappointing,” Rep. Klarides said. “With many important questions left unanswered, this far-reaching policy was hastily rushed through in the dead of night by majority legislators, postponing the start of the debate until after 10:00pm.”

The measure did not go through the normal legislative process, and has not passed through a single legislative committee.

“This divisive and important issue is very meaningful to a lot of folks in this state, and has the potential to help a lot of people. It deserved a comprehensive and fair evaluation, and likely would have garnered bipartisan support, but was instead driven by stubborn partisanship.”

Klarides supported an amendment to create a task force aimed at accurately determining the ramifications and effects this sweeping program may have. It was defeated on party lines.

“Without a study or any effort to thoroughly vet this concept, we can only speculate the impact this bill will have on homeland security, public safety, insurance policy holders and insurance companies. Perhaps even more troubling is that we have no plan to allocate the financial and staff resources needed for the DMV to manage the colossal influx of demand that will cripple their day-to-day operations.”

Seven states that granted driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants have repealed the law.

“Hastily ramming this legislation through at a time when most people are asleep, including many reporters and investigative watchdogs, illustrates the proponents’ underlying motive: pure politics.”

The bill now awaits action by Senate. The 2013 legislative session adjourns June 5.

State Rep. Themis Klarides (R-114) is urging majority legislators to block the 16-percent gas tax hike scheduled for July 1, asserting funds are available to avoid the increase.

If Democratic legislators fail to act, the wholesale gross receipts tax will increase from 7 percent to 8.1 percent; the tax was originally levied at 1 percent. That increase, coming just in time for vacation season, amounts to roughly four cents per gallon or $60 million more per year.

“The state profits more from your pain at the pump than credit card companies, store owners, and the federal government combined,” Rep. Klarides said. “This tax is ballooning at a disproportionate rate, yielding no significant enhancement to the safety of our bridges and roads.”

“In the past year the state hired 5,300 new employees as state bureaucracy grew by leaps and bounds. We must stop asking more and more from commuters to accommodate the ever-increasing size of state government. It’s not fair to families and businesses in this stagnant economy.”

The combined local, state and federal gas taxes total 63.4 cents per gallon in Connecticut – more than 14 cents per gallon above the national average.

Rep. Klarides added “Budgeting is all about priorities, and this is a prime example of majority legislators’ unwillingness to make tax relief a priority, despite the fact that there are other sources from which this revenue can come.”

Alternative sources from which the $60 million in anticipated revenue can come:

• Rainy Day Fund, $100 million
• Hard hiring freeze, $100 million
• Newly realized health care savings, $223 million (per the Office of Fiscal Analysis)
• Citizens’ Election Fund, $10 million
• Elimination of the Earned Income Tax Credit, $116 million

Since 2007, Rep. Klarides supported 17 separate proposals to permanently cap the gas tax, which were continually voted down by the majority. Last year, Republicans succeeded in pushing Democrats to block the tax hike for one year – a temporary cap that will expire this July. They defeated the Republicans’ amendment to permanently eliminate the increase.

The 2013 Legislative Session adjourns June 5.