House Democrats add funding for Colorado licenses for undocumented citizens

People in southern Colorado are urging senators to add funding to a program that can grant undocumented drivers a license.

A group of supporters met in Pueblo Wednesday night. They are asking two of their local senators, Leroy Garcia, D-Pueblo, and Larry Crowder, R-Alamosa, to support the bill.

The bill that supports the program was passed by the Colorado House, now it faces a Republican-controlled Senate.

The $166,000 comes at the request of the state Department of Revenue, which says the money is necessary to keep up with higher-than-expected demand for the licenses.

Republicans in the Senate rejected the request that’s included as part of a larger funding bill for the department. But Democrats in control of the House added back the funding request, setting up a clash with the Senate, which can stand by its position.

Lola Acosta said her husband needs a license in order to make a living.

“Well this is the thing, if he gets pulled over and he doesn’t have a driver’s license, he would probably be sent back to Mexico. That probably means my kids and I are going to have a hard time

It could be weeks or months before the matter is settled.