Sen. Brady says he'll back immigrant drivers license bill

SPRINGFIELD-The push to license undocumented immigrants got a boost Wednesday from one of Illinois’ top GOP leaders, 2010 gubernatorial candidate Bill Brady.

In a statement, the Bloomington Republican said he would back a measure already supported by Gov. Pat Quinn, Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago) and other key leaders to allow as many as 250,000 undocumented immigrants to gain temporary visitors drivers licenses.

Brady said he had convinced the measure’s backers to include language in a bill so that the licenses can’t be used to register to vote, board aircraft or buy a gun.

“I am pleased that the sponsors of the legislation and the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights addressed my concerns and agreed that the temporary visitors licenses should include notification in bold type that they cannot be used for identification purposes,” said Brady, an assistant Senate Republican leader.