Thread: FLA. DREAMER Bill Giving Illegal Aliens In-State Tuition Rates Passes House

DREAMER Bill Giving Undocumented Immigrants In-State Tuition Rates Passes Through Florida House

Published March 21, 2014 Fox News Latino

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TALLAHASSEE, FLA. (AP) – Amid sharp criticism over the nation's immigration policies, the Florida House on Thursday passed a bill that would let qualified Florida students pay in-state college tuition rates even if they are in the country illegally.

But the legislation only cleared by an 81-33 margin as a sizable number of Republicans voted against the bill even though it is a top priority of House Speaker Will Weatherford.

Backers of the measure, however, argued that it was wrong for the state to deny help to those who had been brought to Florida when they were children.

"Don't hold these children responsible for something they had no control over," said Rep. Jeanette Nunez, R-Miami.

The bill would grant a tuition waiver to high school graduates who attended a Florida school for four consecutive years regardless of their immigration status. The in-state rate is roughly one quarter of the rate paid by out-of-state students.

The debate over in-state tuition for certain students who entered the country illegally has been a perennial one in Tallahassee. Similar bills passed the House and Senate but never in the same year.

At least 15 other states have passed such laws, with other states considering them this year. The trend reflects immigrant advocates' increasing focus on state legislatures as Congress fails to make any headway on national immigration reform. It also highlights lawmakers' growing recognition of the influence of Latino voters.

Several GOP legislators sharply criticized the federal government over immigration as a reason to back the bill.

"We must recognize the fact the federal government has refused to do what is right about our immigration problem," said Rep. Charlie Van Zant, R-Keystone Heights. "They do not have the courage to deal with it."

But the Thursday vote showed the sharp divide among Republicans.

Senate President Don Gaetz remains opposed to granting the tuition break and other top Republicans in the Senate have also come out against it.

House Republicans opposed to the bill did not debate against it, but several have argued previously it was wrong to give a benefit to someone whose family broke the law.

Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach, said legislators don't really know how much the change in policy will cost.

"Until we know that, to put that burden on Florida taxpayers is probably unwise," Gaetz said.

Gov. Rick Scott backs a Senate bill that includes the tuition break because it would place limits on how much universities could raise tuition rates.

http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/new...-rates-passes/

"Don't hold these children responsible for something they had no control over," said Rep. Jeanette Nunez, R-Miami.

They are still illegal and shouldn't be catered to. They are still taking up limited seats in our colleges that belong to citizens. The illegal parents made the decision for the kid to be here illegally and there are consequences to be paid. To cater to law-breakers is to invite more illegal activity.

"We must recognize the fact the federal government has refused to do what is right about our immigration problem," said Rep. Charlie Van Zant, R-Keystone Heights. "They do not have the courage to deal with it."

Is it right that a foreigner should get a break when our own out of state citizens can't get a break? Is it right to pick and choose which laws to follow? Is it right for a foreigner to take a seat that belongs to an American citizen? To do what is right is to deport the kids along with their parents. If they want to live and go to school and work here like a citizen of the USA, let them come through the proper channels like everyone else.

Friday, March 21, 2014, 1:16 PM EDT
numbersusa

Legislation (HB 851) passed the Florida House that would give illegal-alien students partial tuition waivers enabling them to pay the same in-state tuition rates as Florida residents. The legislation passed with a sizable majority (81-33), but many House Republicans voted against the bill despite the fact that it was a top priority of House Speaker Will Weatherford.

HB 851 initially made illegal aliens eligible for in-state tuition rates but that language was removed before House passage. The bill now grants a partial tuition waiver to high school graduates who attended a Florida school for four consecutive years, irrespective of their immigration status. The waiver would reduce tuition costs by about 75 percent but the recipients would still be considered “non-residents.”

The change reportedly will prevent illegal aliens from being eligible for state-funded scholarships and other benefits. It also is intended to prevent illegal aliens from displacing Florida residents since Florida universities must have a certain balance of in-state students to out-of-state students.

House passage sends the bill to the Senate where a related measure (SB 1400) was almost defeated in its first committee of consideration. The Senate Education Committee passed the bill on a narrow 5-4 margin, with most of the panel's Republicans voting against it.

SB 1400 is now in the Senate Education Appropriations Subcommittee, where the Chairman, Sen. Bill Galvano, opposes the measure. Senate President Don Gaetz also opposes granting illegal aliens a tuition break but has not said whether his will use his power to block a bill.

Gov. Rick Scott came out in support of the Senate bill, in part, because it limits the ability of colleges and universities to raise tuition without the legislature’s approval. Limiting tuition increases was one of Scott’s his top priorities for the year. Still, the shift on in-state tuition is a major change from four years ago when Scott ran for governor on a pro-immigration enforcement platform.

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