Thread: Florida GOP split on low tuition for illegal immigrants kids

http://www.bradenton.com/mld/bradenton/ ... 402028.htm

Posted on Sat, Apr. 22, 2006


EDUCATION
GOP split on low tuition for illegal immigrants' kids
For the fourth year in a row, a bid to let children of illegal immigrants pay the same for college tuition as Florida residents appears unlikely to pass.
BY GARY FINEOUT
gfineout@MiamiHerald.com

TALLAHASSEE - Republicans in the Florida Legislature are sharply torn over whether or not the children of illegal immigrants deserve to pay the same for college as other Florida residents.

The disagreement could doom, for the fourth year in a row, a proposal to offer a tuition discount to children of immigrants who have attended high school in the state for at least three years. The children of illegal immigrants now pay out-of-state rates that are four times the amount state residents pay.

Rep. Juan Zapata, a West Kendall Republican who has been pushing the idea, got emotional Friday when discussing the legislation before a House panel.

''Why should children pay for the sins of their fathers?'' said Zapata, adding that immigrants came to this country ``to give their kids a better life.''

''They're trying to tie this into the immigration issue and punish these kids,'' Zapata said. ``They've done nothing wrong.''

Florida residents who go to a state university full-time this year paid more than $3,000 for tuition and fees, compared to as much as $15,000 to $16,000 for out-of-state residents.

In an effort to soften opposition to the legislation, Zapata and others backing the tuition discount capped the number of students who could receive it at 2,000 the first year. Of those, 1,500 would be students already enrolled at community colleges or state universities, with a grade point average of at least 2.0. The rest would be students graduating from high school, selected based on merit, also with a minimum 2.0 grade point average.

The Florida House has backed the proposal and has moved Zapata's stand-alone bill through several committees. On Friday, the House also voted 91-21 in favor of a financial aid bill sponsored by Rep. Anitere Flores, a Miami Republican, that includes the same tuition discount. The 21 no votes all came from Republicans. Flores' bill, which would hand out grants to students whose families have never gone to college, is a top priority for Gov. Jeb Bush.

But the Florida Senate is opposed to the tuition break. On Thursday, the Senate Domestic Security Committee killed a similar bill sponsored by Sen. Frederica Wilson, a Miami Democrat.

Senate President Tom Lee bristled at the idea of supporting in-state tuition rates for the children of illegal immigrants, saying the state did not spend enough now to help legal Florida residents.

''I'm not a hard-liner on these things, and I have no anger toward people who come here seeking a better life, but doggone it, they ought to pay their way and have to come here legally, and it's not our job to subsidize illegal activity,'' said Lee, who is running for state chief financial officer this fall.

I hope it doesn't.

''Why should children pay for the sins of their fathers?'' said Zapata, adding that immigrants came to this country

I'll tell you why, that's the way our criminal justice system works. Let's say a guy with a wife and two kids robs a liquor store and gets caught and sentenced for 5 years. The state doesn't support those kids while he's in jail, they go without and they live with their father's sins. That's the way its always been, illegals aliens are no exception. If you don't like it, go back to where you came from.

As far as I'm concerned, crossing our borders without permission is as bad as robbing.