By JULIANA BARBASSA, Associated Press WriterSAN FRANCISCO - Ten months after vetoing a bill that would have let illegal immigrants get driver's licenses, Gov. Gray Davis has reversed course, drawing accusations that he is pandering to Hispanics to try to save his job from a recall. ---
"Gray Davis is now scrambling to find as many friends in California as he can," said Phil Paule, political director for Rescue California, the group pushing to oust Davis. ---
Last October, Davis vetoed a previous version of the bill in the middle of a tight re-election campaign, a move that cost him the endorsement of the 24- member caucus of Hispanic Democratic lawmakers.
Davis vetoed it because it did not require immigrants to pass criminal background checks. The current bill does not include that language but requires applicants to be photographed and fingerprinted and their physical descriptions and addresses recorded.
Davis expressed support for the bill last weekend before labor groups and the influential Mexican American Political Association convention, just days after the date for the recall election was set.
The bill has passed the Senate and will be heard by the Assembly after the Legislature returns from its recess Aug. 18.