Arizona legislator pulls plug on controversial driver’s license bill

PHOENIX — A newly elected Arizona state representative has done an about-face on controversial legislation that he had promised to introduce.

Rep. Jay Lawrence had announced a few weeks ago that he would introduce a bill that would put the words “noncitizen” on the Arizona driver’s license of anyone who was not an American citizen.

That led to an outcry from immigration advocates who drew comparisons between Lawrence and Nazis.

But in a post that appeared on Lawrence’s Facebook page on Sunday night, he said that he won’t introduce the bill after all.

Lawrence said the bill wasn’t necessary because licenses already have a designation indicating the holder is a noncitizen.

He went on to say that critics would claim his decision as a “victory.”

Lawrence has not yet responded to KTAR’s request for an interview.

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