Thread: Romney said....

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massac ... tion_bill/

Here's the story from the link above:

Panel OK's immigrant tuition bill
A veto probable, committee is told
By Janette Neuwahl, Globe Correspondent | May 6, 2005

Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healey and state Representative Marie P. St. Fleur faced off yesterday over legislation that would charge certain immigrant students lower in-state college tuition rates.

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Sign up for: Globe Headlines e-mail | Breaking News Alerts The House Ways and Means Committee approved the legislation, despite Healey's warning that Governor Mitt Romney would veto the bill.

''Breaking the law should not entitle you to public benefits," Healey told the committee. ''America is a nation of immigrants, but it is also a nation of laws. Governor Romney vetoed similar legislation last June; he is prepared to do so again."

The bill would grant lower tuition rates to immigrants who have lived in Massachusetts for three years and have graduated from a Bay State high school. Currently, immigrants without permanent residency status or US citizenship must pay out-of-state tuition rates. The legislation is expected to benefit about 400 students per year and has become a key part of the agenda of advocates for immigrants.

''They are within our borders now, and we have to do something," said St. Fleur, a Boston Democrat who authored the in-state tuition bill. ''We're paying state dollars to educate them in our K-12 system. And, in fact, if they are here in [prekindergarten classes], we have to pay for them. So now that they've graduated, will we stop spending [state] dollars? I'm at a loss, and I would invite the governor to keep an open mind on this issue."

The legislation would also require immigrant students applying for the in-state rates to sign a legal document that confirms they are in the process of becoming a US citizen or permanent resident.

Ali Noorani, executive director of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition, said yesterday that he has spoken to House and Senate leaders and is confident that the bill will gain the support it needs to override Romney's expected veto.

Opponents to the bill, such as the Massachusetts Coalition for Immigration Reform, plan to lobby lawmakers on the measure so that Romney's veto would be sustained, said Russell Gale, a member of the group.

Material from State House News Service was used in this report. Janette Neuwahl can be reached at jneuwahl@globe.com.

© Copyright 2006 Globe Newspaper Company.

http://devalpatrick.com/issue.php?issue_id=7611647

The NEW gov. is a dope.

Originally Posted by badlarry

http://devalpatrick.com/issue.php?issue_id=7611647

The NEW gov. is a dope.

Yes, yes he is! I am in MA too bad larry.