Thread: CO: Immigrant Tuition bill Rejected by House Panel

Immigrant tuition bill rejected by Colo. panel

IVAN MORENO, Associated Press
Updated 10:47 p.m., Monday, April 25, 2011


DENVER (AP) — An attempt to grant illegal immigrants the opportunity to attend Colorado colleges at lower tuition rates failed Monday, the fifth time such legislation has failed amid a debate about what benefits undocumented students deserve.

A Republican-led House Education Committee rejected the Democratic proposal on a 7-6 party-line vote after hearing dozens of people testify about legislation that has divided state lawmakers for years. The bill would have allowed illegal immigrants living in Colorado to attend state colleges while paying the lower in-state tuition rate, as opposed to out-of-state tuition, which could be three times more expensive. Supporters of the legislation say the higher tuition rate is a roadblock to a college education for illegal immigrant students who've been educated in U.S. public school systems.

Several high school students filled the committee room dressed in white T-shirts that read "Future Nurse," "Future Chef," and "Future Lawyer." After the vote, Democratic Sen. Michael Johnston, one of the bill's sponsors, tried to console a crying teenage girl who wore a T-shirt that read, "Future Social Worker."

Democrats supporting the bill said that allowing more students the opportunity to attend college would be an economic boost for the state's future. Republicans opposing the measure argued that it could entice more illegal immigration.

"Are we teaching a new generation that it's OK not to follow the laws of our country?" Republican Rep. Robert Ramirez, the only Hispanic GOP member in House. "That scares me."

Ramirez recounted how his father, a Mexican immigrant, came to the U.S. and struggled to gain legal residency. He took a long pause before saying "no" to the bill, and indicated beforehand that he was conflicted on the matter.

"It's a tough decision for me. For all of us here. It's one that for me, doesn't matter which way I vote, it's detrimental and it's good," he said.

Denver interim Mayor Guillermo "Bill" Vidal, a Cuban immigrant and the city's first foreign-born mayor, was among those speaking in support of the legislation.

"I'm just like these kids that we're trying to help here today. The difference for me is that the Cubans got political asylum from the United States and my residency was established immediately," Vidal said. He said other immigrants have a more difficult time gaining legal status.

"I'm here to plead with you when thinking about these kids, it's important to separate their plight from the debate on illegal immigration," he said.

The measure easily passed the Senate earlier this month, but only Democrats supported it.

Colorado's Senate Bill 126 would have allowed illegal immigrant students to qualify for in-state tuition if they meet certain criteria, such as attending a Colorado high school for at least three years and graduating from a state school. Under the bill, illegal immigrants would still pay more than other students because they would be ineligible for a Colorado stipend granted to legal in-state tuition residents to use at a college of their choice.

Eleven states have laws granting in-state tuition to illegal immigrants, including California, Illinois, Kansas and Texas. Maryland's Legislature recently passed similar legislation that is awaiting the governor's signature. Although there have been court challenges, the law has not been overturned in the states that have it.

Still, Colorado Republicans warned the Democrats' proposal would run afoul of a federal law states that illegal immigrants cannot receive a benefit not given to U.S. citizens.

Eddie Lake, an Aurora businessman, said he sympathizes with illegal immigrant students, but that he was upset that lawmakers are "giving my country away."

"I'm getting pretty damn tired. I've got children, grandchildren, I've got nieces and nephews in other states who would like to come here and go to college with the in-state tuition," he said.

Democratic Sen. Angela Giron, one of the sponsors of the bill, wiped away tears after the vote and said she would propose the legislation again next year.

"It just breaks my heart for the kids," she said.

http://www.newstimes.com/news/article/I ... z1Kb1yhUbo

Republicans kill in-state tuition proposal

Eli Stokols Political Reporter
8:19 p.m. MDT, April 25, 2011

DENVER -- After more than five hours of testimony, a House committee Monday night killed a proposal to offer unsubsidized in-state tuition to undocumented students.

The 7-6 party-line vote marked the second time in a month that a controversial proposal, already passed by the Democrat-controlled Senate, died before a GOP-controlled committee in the House.

Another measure that would have recognized same-sex civil unions died on a similar party-line vote in the House Business Committee, also never reaching the House floor.

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On Monday, the House Education Committee heard hours of testimony, the majority of it from a wide coalition of people supporting the bill: college presidents, district superintendents, business leaders, Denver's current mayor and one of his predecessors, and dozens of undocumented students themselves.

"This is not a handout," said Mayor Bill Vidal, who compared his own boyhood immigration from Cuba to the plight of immigrants in the room. "It's simply making it easier for those who want to do the work."

Although no undocumented students put their names on the record to testify publicly, they put their faces front and center, filling the crowded Old Supreme Court chambers, all dressed in white t-shirts with their career ambitions -- "future doctor", for example -- penned across their chests.

"All I want is chance to go to college, to be able to afford college," said a Bruce Randolph senior named Virma, who couldn't give her last name for fear of being reported. "We're just fighting for a chance to make a difference in our community."

Republicans on the panel said they were moved by the stories of children whose parents brought them here illegally; but they all voted against the proposal, concerned about the added costs for universities and colleges and the larger issue of citizenship.

"We are a nation of laws," said Rep. Robert Ramirez, R-Westminster, viewed as a possible swing vote up until the moment he voted no. "We need to do something about the immigration laws in this country. Maybe after we do that, I could vote for this bill."

When the hearing adjourned, the bill's sponsors gathered the Latino students who'd stayed until the end in the Capitol's west foyer for an impromptu prayer session and pep talk.

"This is our family," said Sen. Mike Johnston, the bill's Senate sponsor, drawing the circle of teens in an arm hug. "And we're only going to get stronger."

http://www.kdvr.com/news/kdvr-republica ... 0842.story

State House committee rejects in-state tuition for illegal immigrants
7:49 PM, Apr 25, 2011

Written by
Kyle Cabodi, Christina Dickinson, and Jeffrey Wolf

Two Minute Video Report at Source Link

DENVER - On Monday night, the Republican-led Colorado House Education Committee rejected a bill that would have granted in-state college tuition privileges to illegal immigrant students. Senate Bill 126 would have allowed illegal immigrants from Colorado to attend state colleges while paying the lower in-state tuition rate, as opposed to out-of-state tuition, which could be three times more expensive.

It was the fifth time a bill like this has failed in Colorado.

Under the bill, illegal immigrants would have still paid more than other students because they would be ineligible for a Colorado stipend granted to legal in-state residents to use at a college of their choice.

Those who opposed the bill say the state's resources need to be focused on actual citizens, not undocumented individuals.

"It is very important that we allot the limited amount of money that the state has to our constituents, and a person who is not a citizen of this country cannot be a constituent," Rep. Chris Holbert (R-Parker) said.

Supporters said the students shouldn't be punished if their parents brought them to Colorado illegally. Opponents said allowing those students to avoid out-of-state tuition could entice more illegal immigrants to come to Colorado.

A group of students, some of them undocumented, gathered in the committee chambers during Monday's hearing. Before the hearing, they designed shirts with descriptions of what career they would like to pursue when they get older, after they attend college. The students then wore the shirts to the hearing. The students also wrote personal letters to each member of the Senate Education Committee that made a case for why the bill should pass.

One student, who chose to be identified as Sonia, says without the bill, undocumented students will be forced to find higher education options outside of the state.

"Many of these students, like the shirts say, are future doctors, future engineers," she said. "They're going to have to take their potential elsewhere and we just can't push away that kind of potential into competing states."

Notable public figures and organizations testified before the committee Monday, including Denver Mayor Bill Vidal and representatives from Metropolitan State College and the Colorado Commission of Higher Education.

http://www.9news.com/news/article/19527 ... immigrants

Wow, I'm pleasantly surprised, I thought Colorado went down the sink hole a while ago. Way to go, C-O!!!

We need to deport illegal aliens, not give them in-state tuition, a benefit not even available to US citizens. What is wrong with you Dream Act people? Are you so foreign-drenched that you don't even see what you're doing to Americans, you're supposed fellow citizens? Are you so blind that you don't see that every seat in college you hand out to an illegal alien or legal immigrant for that matter, as well as people here on student visas, that you are robbing American Kids of their chance to go to college and their good job opportunities when they would have graduated?

What kind of people sell out their own countrymen to people from foreign lands in our nation especially those in our nation illegally? What is wrong with you?

Well, thank God Colorado still has enough people on a Senate panel with 2 live brain cells still connected to stop this nonsense in their state.

Good Job Republicans! Good Job Colorado!! Now go get an AZ immigration bill passed and get these people out of your state so you can stop wasting your time and citizens money on useless detrimental legislations like the Dream Act.

Originally Posted by builditnow

Wow, I'm pleasantly surprised, I thought Colorado went down the sink hole a while ago. Way to go, C-O!!!

DITTO!!

If there were 7 Democrats and 6 Republicans instead of vice versa, the bill would have passed. If they lose a single Republican seat in the next election the bill could pass next time it's brought up. The liberals are killing us on everything immigration related (you can throw a few RINOs in that group too)!

I must admit it was rather refreshing to see the son of a Hispanic immigrant side with the majority of Americans for a change.

Originally Posted by Mickey

If there were 7 Democrats and 6 Republicans instead of vice versa, the bill would have passed. If they lose a single Republican seat in the next election the bill could pass next time it's brought up. The liberals are killing us on everything immigration related (you can throw a few RINOs in that group too)!

I must admit it was rather refreshing to see the son of a Hispanic immigrant side with the majority of Americans for a change.

Yes, and there are some we've lost on close votes too. One or two more votes and it could have gone our way.

I'd like to be able to celebrate victories when they happen. Sometimes thats what keeps us all going. We're all aware of the struggle, but we haven't lost the war yet.

Originally Posted by Judy

Originally Posted by builditnow

Wow, I'm pleasantly surprised, I thought Colorado went down the sink hole a while ago. Way to go, C-O!!!

DITTO!!

One student, who chose to be identified as Sonia, says without the bill, undocumented students will be forced to find higher education options outside of the state.

Correctomundo! Like in your home country, how about that option, "Sonia"? Sounds like a winner to me.