The chairman of the Cayuga County Conservative Party on Friday blasted New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer's proposal to allow illegal immigrants to obtain drivers' licenses, calling the plan “an insult to our friends and neighbors” who came to America legally.

In a news release, Greg Rigby called the plan a slap in the face to legal immigrants and suggested Spitzer hadn't learned any lessons from the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

“The 9-11 terrorists were all illegal aliens who had fraudulently obtained a drivers license,” Rigby wrote.

Spitzer, who is scheduled to speak Saturday at a political fundraiser in Auburn, has said illegal aliens who can show valid foreign passports should be allowed to legally drive in New York. Public safety would improve, Spitzer argues, because information on more illegal aliens will be recorded.

The New York State Association of County Clerks last week voted against the proposal, and some clerks have said they will refuse to issue driver's licenses to anyone who can't provide a valid Social Security number.

Spitzer said this week that the clerks do not make laws and that they will have to enforce the policy whether they agree with it or not.

Cayuga County Clerk Sue Dwyer could not be reached for comment Friday.