GOP lawmakers kill bill to give in-state tuition to children of illegal aliens

Posted March 13, 2007
7:40 PM

(Hartford - AP) _ A bill that would provide in-state tuition to children of undocumented aliens has essentially died in committee.

Republicans in the legislature's Higher Education Committee used a lengthy debate today to run out the clock. Today was the committee's deadline for voting out bills and the panel ultimately ran out of time to discuss the proposal.

Dan Debicella, a Republican Senator from Shelton, opposed the bill and said he purposely debated at length to use up the time.

He called the initiative a radical proposal and the wrong direction for the state to take. A similar bill was narrowly defeated in 2005.

Supporters say children should not be penalized for their parents' decision to come to the country illegally, and should be granted the opportunity for an affordable education. They say many of those children have attended and graduated from Connecticut public schools and are essentially Connecticut residents.

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