On April 7, 2008, the Maryland State Senate voted on an amendment that would have denied driver's licenses to illegal immigrants.  HB 478 was before the State Senate.  HB 478 concerned commercial driver's licenses.  An amendment sponsored by Senate Minority Leader David Brinkley [R-Frederick/Carroll Counties] would have added language to HB 478 that would require individuals to provide proof of legal presence in the United States before they could receive a Maryland driver's license.

Unfortunately, the Brinkley amendment failed by one vote --- 23 to 24.  Therefore, any of the 24 senators that voted to continue to allow illegal immigrants to receive Maryland driver's licenses cast the deciding vote.  Here is a list of the senators that voted to continue to allow illegal immigrants to obtain driver's licenses in Maryland:

     Conway, Currie, Della, Exum, Forehand, Frosh, Garagiola, Gladden, Harrington,

     Jones, Kasemeyer, Kelley, King, Kramer, Lenett, Madaleno, McFadden, Middleton,

     Miller, Pinsky, Pugh, Raskin, Robey and Rosapepe 

Since the senate vote, Maine has joined the other 45 states that deny driver's licenses to illegal immigrants.  Consequently, there are currently only four states that still allow illegal immigrants to obtain driver's licenses:  Maryland, New Mexico, Washington and Hawaii.  Maryland is the only state east of New Mexico to provide driver's licenses to illegal immigrants.  No wonder Maryland is considered by many to be a "sanctuary" state!