WPCNR ALBANY ROUNDS. November 14, 2007: Governor Eliot Spitzer announced to The New York Times in an interview Tuesday with Reporter Danny Hakim he is officially dropping his Drivers License for Illegals initiative he announced in September,  (without having cleared or discussed its design or implementation with the United States Department of Homeland Security).

Just ten days ago, after tailoring the program to fit guidelines handed down by the United States Department of Homeland Security, the Governor announced in a news conference with DHS Secretary, Michael Chertoff, that New York would offer drivers licenses to illegals with the classification "Not for U.S. Government Use," which would not be valid for illegals to board planes or cross international borders between the U.S. and Canada, for example.

Now, the Governor is quoted in a Times story Tuesday evening, "I am not willing to fight to the bitter end on something that will not ultimately be implemented."

The announcement of the end comes 72 hours after the Governor's press office reported the license for illegals plan was still in play and would be implemented sometime next year.

Paul Larribee of the Governor's Press Office tonight could not confirm to WPCNR the governor's plans. He said the press office has not released a statement. Asked if the governor was going to  announce the withdrawal of the Licenses for Illegals plan Wednesday as The Times reported, Larribee said the Governor planned to be in Washington Wednesday.

The Governor is reported to have decided to continue to issue three types of licenses under Department of Homeland Security guidelines: the REAL ID compliant license; the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative compliant license, and a regular New York Driver's license as presently issued, but not make that license available to illegal aliens.

The Governor in the Times report blamed politicization of the issue. The report may be read at http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/14/nyregion/14spitzer.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin