Thread: State House passes ‘Washington Dream Act’

March 13, 2013 at 6:41 PM

State House passes ‘Washington Dream Act’

Posted by Amelia Dickson

OLYMPIA — The Washington State Dream Act was approved by the state House on Wednesday, bringing undocumented students one step closer to being eligible for the State Need Grant.

The measure was approved 77-20, with unanimous Democrat support and a split vote on the Republican side. It was the last piece of House legislation to make it through before the session’s cutoff.

House Bill 1817 would qualify all students who graduated from a Washington high school or earned a diploma-equivalent in the state for the State Need Grant — the state’s largest financial-aid program — as long as they meet other grant requirements. The students must also remain in the state after earning their diploma, until they attend college.

Bill sponsor Rep. Zack Hudgins urged fellow legislators to pass HB 1817 for the good of Washington. He said regardless of where students are born, they are capable of having a big impact on the state’s economy.

“[Undocumented students] are the ones who will sell our apples and pears and airplanes,” said Hudgins, D-Tukwila. “These kids have no choice in where they are born, but they do have a choice in how hard they work.”

The issue now goes to the Senate for consideration.*** Senate Minority Leader Ed Murray, D-Seattle, introduced a similar bill the Senate, but it died without receiving a hearing. And on Wednesday, a maneuver by supporters to pass the Dream Act by tacking it onto other legislation failed.

Several House Republicans spoke in favor of the bill Wednesday, arguing it would benefit their constituents and strengthen their communities. Rep. Bruce Chandler, R-Granger, said receiving an education will allow undocumented students a chance to participate fully in their communities.

But fellow Republican Rep. Larry Haler, of Richland, spoke against passage – not because he disagreed with the intent of the bill, but because of the budget.

“Currently we can’t fund 32,000 young men and women who meet the eligibility of the State Need Grant,” said Haler, R-Richland. “Sometime in the future, a few years from now, we might be able to afford it.”

Rep. Overstreet, R-Lynden, argued that the bill shouldn’t be passed because people in the county illegally shouldn’t have access to a state-funded education. He said representatives shouldn’t vote on the bill based on emotion or compassion, they should vote based on laws already in place.

State House passes ‘Washington Dream Act’ | Politics Northwest | Seattle Times

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It would be great if the state had enough money to grant aid to every student in the state, legal or not. That's far from the case. Lawmakers must now make cuts.

March 15, 2013
Editorial Board
Union-Bulletin

A college education has never been more expensive than it is now.

The tuition rates at state colleges and universities have seen double-digit increases the past few years. The increase in college costs mean the pool of cash for financial aid does not go as far.

And this week’s state budget projection shows a $1.3 billion (yes, with a B) gap between anticipated tax revenue and anticipated expenses.

Yet, the state House on Wednesday approved 77-20 a proposal that would make young illegal immigrants eligible for state college financial aid.

In theory, if money was no object, offering every qualified kid — whether born in the U.S. or an immigrant, legal or illegal — an opportunity to get a college education would be reasonable.

But clearly money is a huge issue. The plan approved by the House, when calculating the estimated number of illegal immigrants eligible, will require adding about $3.3 million over the next two years to the State Needs Grant program.

But if lawmakers add $3.3 million to the financial aid program, money will be taken from other programs or taxes added. If no more funding is available (a more likely scenario), the pool of applicants will grow for the same number of (or, perhaps, fewer) slots to receive aid. That’s the hard reality of this situation.

It doesn’t feel right cutting off aid to citizens and essentially giving it to illegal immigrants.

An earlier version of the legislation seemed far more appropriate than the version that’s now on its way to the Senate for debate.

That version made eligible only young immigrants who had qualified for the Obama administration’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.

Obama’s program offers two-year renewable permission to stay in the U.S. for young illegal immigrants (under age 31) who arrived in the country before their 16th birthday. Young immigrants allowed to stay under the Obama program are in the U.S. legally, albeit temporarily.

It would be great if every child had access to higher education and the opportunity to pay for it. That’s not the case. The money is not available to serve all.

Lines have to be drawn somewhere in establishing eligibility standards for state financial aid grants. Income level and grade-point average, for example, are used.

Legal status is a reasonable place to draw one of those lines.

State doesn't have cash to fund college grants for illegal immigrants | Walla Walla Union-Bulletin