CA - - GOP group plans bill to bar aid for illegal immigrants

Moving to capitalize on lingering resentment over legislative efforts to grant driver licenses to undocumented aliens, some Republicans plan to launch a broad initiative campaign aimed at barring those in California illegally from collecting welfare, college scholarships or food stamps. The measure, targeted for the March 2006 ballot, also would pre-empt any legislation to allow illegal immigrants to gain driver licenses. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who persuaded the Legislature to repeal such a law, is negotiating a compromise measure with Sen. Gil Cedillo, D-Los Angeles, but no deal has been struck. [more]