Thread: Colorado Senate votes down in-state tuition!!!!!

Originally Posted by SicNTiredInSoCal

Congrats Colorado and ALIPAC!

YEAH!!! We Won! Next state step right up!

The Colorado Senate voted 18-16 Monday to kill a bill that would have granted in-state tuition to some illegal immigrants who graduated from Colorado high schools.
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Five Democrats joined all 13 Republicans in voting against Senate Bill 170./

Senate Bill 170 would apply to students who are in the country illegally and who have graduated from Colorado high schools.

Backers say that these students were brought into the country illegally as children by their parents. They say it makes economic sense to help them get an education.

Opponents say it would violate a federal law that bars states from offering illegal immigrants any benefit that’s not given to citizens from other states. Despite that law, 10 states have passed laws allowing in-state tuition for illegal immigrant students.

http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20090 ... 1/90406022

I noticed whoever wrote this article won't even take credit for it, it says "Coloradoan staff". I guess they don't want any more grief from Americans over their poor coverage!!

Anybody want to help the Dreamers apply for college in their country of origin?

If anyone wants to hear Chris Romer get grilled and shamed go to www.khow.com right now and click listen live!!!

Great news! Hooray!

I received Senator Harvey's email too. GREAT NEWS! Good going ALIPAC.

This is fantastic news...way to go alipacer's!!!!

Originally Posted by Bowman

Anybody want to help the Dreamers apply for college in their country of origin?

They can start here.

http://www.unam.mx/

Dixie

Fantastic! Good Job Colorado!! Great work ALIPAC!

Colo. Senate rejects illegal immigrant tuition
CommentsComment on this article
Apr 6, 2009 4:15 PM (19 hrs ago) By COLLEEN SLEVIN, AP

18 hrs ago: Colo. Senate rejects illegal immigrant tuition
1 day ago: Colo. Senate debates illegal immigrant tuition
1 day ago: Colo. Senate to debate illegal immigrant tuition
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6 days ago: Illegal immigrant tuition up for vote at Capitol
21 days ago: Latino groups lobby for in-state tuition
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This story ranks # 3,439 of 5,060

DENVER (Map, News) - The Colorado Senate killed a proposal Monday that would have allowed illegal immigrants to pay in-state tuition at state colleges and universities.

Five Democrats joined with Republicans to defeat the bill in a 18-16 vote after a three-hour debate.

Senate Bill 170 would have allowed students who are in the country illegally and who have graduated from Colorado high schools to pay in-state tuition plus the cost of a state stipend that other Colorado students receive.

Backers said these students shouldn't be punished for the laws their parents broke in coming to the United States. Opponents argued it would have violated a federal law that bars states from offering illegal immigrants any benefit that's not given to citizens from other states.
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Lawmakers then voted to change the bill to say it would take effect only if the federal law is changed through the DREAM Act pending in Congress, but that amended version was defeated. Republicans accused majority Democrats of trying to have it both ways since Democrats initially argued that they believed the bill, similar to ones passed in 10 other states, was legal.

Sen. Jim Isgar, D-Hesperus, was among the Democrats who voted no. He said he was upset the fight on the issue had come to overshadow the debate on the overall state budget, which includes a recommended $350 million cut to higher education that could put some schools at risk of closing.

"I'm frustrated that we have a budget we can't even balance," said Isgar, who added that about 70 percent of his constituents opposed the bill. Even though illegal immigrant students would have to pay more than Colorado residents, Isgar said he thought the state would still end up paying more to support the extra students when things are already tight.

Sen. Linda Newell, D-Littleton, who also voted no, said she listened to her constituents but didn't elaborate.

Other Democrats who voted against the bill were Sen. Morgan Carroll of Aurora, Sen. Lois Tochtrop of Thornton and Sen. Moe Keller of Wheat Ridge.

Lawmakers said they received hundreds of e-mails and voice mail messages mostly urging them to vote against the bill, although Hispanic organizations have been waging a lobbying effort in favor of the bill. On the morning of the debate, Federico Pena, Denver's first Hispanic mayor, came to the Capitol to urge fellow Democrats to "do the right thing" and vote for the bill. He acknowledge some were afraid they might lose re-election if they backed the bill, but he told them Latino voters would be there to support "strong Democrats".

After the defeat, Pena said backers have to continue to educate the public and lawmakers about the measure, including explaining that the measure wouldn't cost the state anything or hurt other Colorado students.

He said Latino voters would continue to support Democrats but not just any Democrats.

"They're going to vote for Democrats who share their values," said Pena, who watched the Senate debate along with former state Sen. Polly Baca.

The bill is dead for the year, but the issue may not be.

Democratic Sen. Chris Romer, who sponsored the bill, said Colorado is one of three states that won't be able to offer in-state tuition to its illegal immigrant students even if Congress passes the DREAM Act, which stands for Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors. The federal measure would allow illegal immigrants enrolled in college to become legal residents. But a bill passed with bipartisan support during Colorado's 2006 special legislative session on illegal immigration bars giving state benefits to illegal immigrants with limited exceptions, such as emergency medical care.

Romer said other bills pending in the Legislature could be amended to prevent that 2006 law from stopping the state from offering in-state tuition to illegal immigrants should the DREAM Act pass.
http://www.examiner.com/a-1946854~Colo_ ... ition.html