Thread: TN: In-state Tuition Bill Closer to Passage, but now Applies to Fewer Undocumented

Please use the links, names, and contact info in the post below this article to contact TN Lawmakers to tell them to oppose in-state tuition for illegals by opposing Sen. Todd Gardenhire's illegal alien tuition bill (SB 612)! ( Click here for Committee Member contact info)

In-State Tuition Bill Closer to Passage, but Now Applies to Fewer Undocumented Students

April 8, 2015

by Andy Sher

NASHVILLE -- A bill allowing undocumented children to attend Tennessee public colleges at in-state tuition rates is now flying to the Senate floor after backers included a provision restricting applicants to students legally authorized to be in the U.S. under a 2012 federal program.

Senate Finance Committee members approved the bill, sponsored by Sen. Todd Gardenhire, R-Chattanooga, on a 7-3 vote.

The House companion bill passed the House Education Instruction and Programs Committee later on a voice vote with prominent opponents of illegal immigration backing the bill.
"It took me by surprise," Gardenhire later told reporters. The bill, which he has pushed for three years, "is about kids being able to step up the ladder and become productive citizens in our community," the senator said.

Gardenhire, who has a number of Hispanic residents in his Chattanooga-based district, has long maintained that children brought to the U.S. illegally by their parents shouldn't be punished for their parents' actions.

Several lawmakers say the deciding factor was the amendment restricting in-state tuition to students who are now lawfully in the U.S. under the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).

Criteria for the program include the students having been under age 16 when they came to the U.S., having lived in the country continually for at least five years, graduation from a U.S. high school and no criminal record.

They also have to have come to the country before June 15, 2007, which appears to be addressing some lawmakers' concerns that in-state tuition could encourage more illegal immigrants to come to Tennessee.

Rep. Kent Calfee, R-Kingston, said that when he arrived at the Capitol on Monday he remained "dead set against" the bill. But he had a last-minute "epiphany."

"The fact that the parents are here under the radar just chills me to the bone, but that's no fault of the children," Calfee said. "I think that this is the right thing to do."

Rep. Rick Womick, R-Murfreesboro, has been a longtime opponent of illegal immigration and noted he, too, wasn't planning to support it.

But the outspoken conservative said he, too, changed his mind after hearing the testimony of Karla Chavez, an undocumented student who came to Nashville when she was 5 years old.
Chavez told the panel she didn't even know she was in the U.S. illegally until her junior year in high school when she began thinking about college. Her parents then informed her of her status.
Attending a state public college was difficult because out-of-state tuition was double, even triple the cost of in-state tuition, Chavez said.

Womick told the House education panel that while he thinks it's "unfair to those who come here through the legal process ... I look at these young men and women and this is not their fault."
"Who are we to say they cannot go on to college?" Womick asked.

Chavez said she was able to get a scholarship to Lipscomb University, a church-affiliated institution in Nashville. With the aid of two part-time jobs, she's able to make it. But students trying to attend a public college are in a quandary.

"I've seen a lot of my friends give up and quit" but now "a lot of students are seeing hope," Chavez said. "I'm really proud there are people who are able to make a bold move and make our dreams come true."

Affected students have been visiting with lawmakers in one-on-one visits, making their case.
Proponents of the bill say an estimated 25,000 children in Tennessee are undocumented.
Some 7,000 already have lawful status under the federal DACA program and an estimated 8,000 others are eligible to join.

Speaking with reporters later, Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey, R-Blountville, said the DACA provisions have him leaning toward voting yes on the measure.

"Before that amendment went on, I wasn't sure," Ramsey said, noting he is "75 percent" likely to support it now.

http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/l...-tuiti/297505/

Many Republican legislators have decided to stand with the Obama Administration against the voters of Tennessee. They offer support of Obama's DACA with "in state tuition". This hurts the state of Tennessee, its citizens and their families, and robs the taxpayers to support and expand illegal immigration.

As Texas considers undoing the damage from in-state tuition provided to those who are illegally present, Tennessee is considering moves in the opposite direction. What a contradiction to be one of the states suing the government and then pushing efforts to rewards DACA individuals with in-state tuition.

* The Senate Bill number is SB 612 *

Video from the TN Legislature - worth listening to the discussions and to the Senate Republicans - Attorney General's office present with comments(19 mins.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44VsUS1FOAc


Education Committee Members and Contact Information: Telephone, Email
http://www.capitol.tn.gov/senate/com...education.html

Senator Delores Gresham - Chair (Republican)
http://www.capitol.tn.gov/senate/members/s26.html

Senator Reginald Tate - 1st Vice Chair (Democrat)
http://www.capitol.tn.gov/senate/members/s33.html

Senator Todd Gardenhire 2nd Vice Chair (Republican who Sponsored the bills for in state tuition for illegal aliens)
http://www.capitol.tn.gov/senate/members/s10.html

Senator Rusty Crowe (Republican) http://www.capitol.tn.gov/senate/members/s3.html

Senator Steven Dickerson (Republican)
http://www.capitol.tn.gov/senate/members/s3.html

Senator Ferrell Hale (Republican)
http://www.capitol.tn.gov/senate/members/s18.html

Senator Joey Hensley (Republican)
http://www.capitol.tn.gov/senate/members/s28.html

Senator Brian Kelsey (Republican)
http://www.capitol.tn.gov/senate/members/s31.html

Senator Jim Tracy (Republican)
http://www.capitol.tn.gov/senate/members/s14.html



* The House Bill number is HB 675 *

Video from the TN House on in state tuition - praise from Democrat rep. (Johnnie Turner) for Republicans crossing over ("we shall overcome) and commenting that these individuals will be citizens

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0MmOBo4j0k*

question that gets asked: what forms or documents would be required/allowed to say that you are lawfully present

Interesting that someone who represents the group that thwarts every attempt to stop illegal immigration, every attempt to tighten voter i.d. measures is the one at the podium answering the House members questions.

Education Committee Members and Contact Information: Telephone, Email
http://www.capitol.tn.gov/house/comm...education.html

Rep. Harry Brooks - Chair (Republican)
http://www.capitol.tn.gov/house/members/h19.html

Rep. Deborah Moody - Vice Chair (Republican)
http://www.capitol.tn.gov/house/members/h81.html

Rep. Kevin Brooks (Republican)
http://www.capitol.tn.gov/house/members/h24.html

Rep. Kent Calfee (Republican - mentioned in article)
http://www.capitol.tn.gov/house/members/h32.html

Rep. Jim Coley (Republican)
http://www.capitol.tn.gov/house/members/h97.html

Rep. John DeBerry (Democrat)
http://www.capitol.tn.gov/house/members/h90.html

Rep. Kevin Dunlap (Democrat)
http://www.capitol.tn.gov/house/members/h43.html

Rep. Craig Fitzhugh (Democrat)
http://www.capitol.tn.gov/house/members/h82.html

Rep/ Eddie Smith (Republican)
http://www.capitol.tn.gov/house/members/h13.html

Rep. Johnnie Turner (Democrat)
http://www.capitol.tn.gov/house/members/h85.html

Rep. Dawn White (Republican)
http://www.capitol.tn.gov/house/members/h37.html

Rep. Mark White (Republican and sponsor of HB 675)
http://www.capitol.tn.gov/house/members/h83.html

Rep. Rick Womick (Republican mentioned in article)
http://www.capitol.tn.gov/house/members/h34.html
615- 741-2804

*Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey (Republican mentioned in article)

615.741.4524 or Toll-Free at 1- 800.449.8366 x14524

lt.gov.ron.ramsey@capitol.tn.gov

* Rep. Bo Watson (Republican)
http://www.capitol.tn.gov/senate/members/s11.html
615-741-3227


Contact Information for All Senators of the Tennessee Legislature:
http://www.capitol.tn.gov/senate/members/

Contact Information for All Representatives of the Tennessee Legislature:
http://www.capitol.tn.gov/house/members/

Supporters have mounted a vigorous campaign for in state tuition and more taxpayer dollars in Tennessee. It appears that the young people are getting a constant audience before Tennessee legislators to get what they desire. Phone calls, emails, personal visits and testimonies sway the hearts and minds according to these reports.

More legislators are forgetting the voters that they represent and have turned toward illegal aliens, as we have seen in Congress.

The efforts of the in state tuition backers are highlighted here, "Tuition Equality Day on the Hill."

http://www.tnimmigrant.org/education/2013/3/1/tuition-equality-now.html

http://www.tnimmigrant.org/educatorsforequality

It's a strange place that supports in-state tuition or any benefit or right for illegal aliens who aren't even supposed to be in our country let alone being granted equal "rights" and "benefits" to pursue high education and the nice jobs that follow to compete with the citizens who are entitled to both the educations and jobs that follow. How do fellow citizens justify selling out their own people and their futures to people who aren't even supposed to be in our country and are here in violation of US immigration law?

It's the most bizarre and peculiar stance I've encountered from public officials. Oh wait, I just remembered, they're on the take with the cartels behind this travesty of illegal immigration which of course, explains it all.

Please start posting a link to Tennessee state lawmaker contact info with an appeal for people to call to support or oppose these measures with each post like this please.

Today we are asking our national networks to focus in on the news section on their own.

Here is the alert with details...
http://www.alipac.us/f8/illegal-immi...sponse-318739/

It is our hope we can engage more activism targets simultaneously by building them up here in the news section instead of singularly engaging via email alert.

W

We need the bill number added to the top please...

Please use the links, names, and contact info in the post below this article to contact TN Lawmakers to tell them to oppose in-state tuition for illegals by opposing Sen. Todd Gardenhire's illegal alien tuition bill (SB 612)!
(Click here for Committee Member contact info)


W

Language of the Senate Bill
http://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/109/Bill/SB0612.pdf

Language of the House Bill 675
http://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/109/Bill/HB0675.pdf

Bill History - SB0612 by Gardenhire
http://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/Bill...lNumber=SB0612

Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee
Refer to Senate Calendar Committee 4/7/2015

PASSED
Ayes............................7
Noes............................3
Present and not Voting....1

Senators voting aye were: Dickerson, Haile, Harper, McNally, Overbey, Stevens, Tate...7

Senators voting no were: Hensley, Ketron, Watson...3

Senators voting present and not voting were: Norris..1

Amendment SA0046
http://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/109/Amend/SA0046.pdf

Amendment SA00447
http://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/109/Amend/SA0047.pdf

Amendment SA0320
http://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/109/Amend/SA0320.pdf

Amendment SA0321
http://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/109/Amend/SA0321.pdf

Amendment HA0337
http://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/109/Amend/HA0337.pdf

(B) Obtained a GED or HiSET credential awarded by a state approved institution or organization ; *[does not have to be in Tennessee]

"the HiSET exam can be taken in multiple formats and multiple languages"
http://hiset.ets.org/test_takers/
http://hiset.ets.org/requirements/tn



Tennessee's equivalent of La Raza is the prevailing voice to explain to Tennessee lawmakers what DACA and in-state tuition means and requires. The Sponsor of the Bill in the House, Rep. Mark White asks the representative from the LaRaza equivalent to answer to the committee.

To Representative Rick Womick who says that it is "no fault of their own," it is no fault of the American people or Tennessee citizens and that is who he represents. It is their dollars who he is responsible to protect, their lives that he is to work to advance. There are Tennesseans who through no fault of their own have situations that merit empathy.

You get a social security number, a drivers license, a work permit and according to Democrat Rep. Johnnie Turner you will be citizens at some point.

Republicans helping the Democratic party in their drive for more voters and more illegal immigration.