Thread: IL: Lawmakers OK private fund for illegal immigrants

This Is Incredible ! Associated Press - May 30, 2011 5:54 PM ET
CHICAGO (AP) - Illinois lawmakers have approved a privately funded scholarship program for children of immigrants, whether they're in the country legally or illegally.

A 61-53 vote in the Illinois House sent the measure to the governor's desk Monday.

The Illinois Dream Act would create a panel to raise private money for college scholarships. To qualify, students must have a Social Security number or federal taxpayer number.

The legislation would also let children of immigrants join state-run college savings programs.

It has no impact on a person's immigration status.

Opponents say it's improper to provide benefits that could help people who violate immigration laws.

The bill is SB2185.

Online: http://www.ilga.gov

you are nuts'
what about the American Kids?

No Amnesty

Aiding and Abetting illegal aliens is against federal law!
Oh yeah slap my face. Laws only apply to legal American citizens..

Lawmakers send Illinois Dream Act bill to Quinn
By Todd Wilson

Tribune reporter

7:43 p.m. CDT, May 30, 2011

In a move to help the children of undocumented residents in Illinois afford college, the House on Monday sent Gov. Pat Quinn the Illinois DREAM Act.

The measure, which passed the House 61-53, would create a fund established through private donations and managed by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission to provide financial assistance to undocumented students in Illinois. The bill would also allow families of the students to participate in the state's two college tuition savings programs.

The bill, which passed the Senate earlier this month, also contains provisions to train high school counselors to help undocumented students find ways to pay for their education.

Sponsoring Rep. Edward Acevedo, D-Chicago, assured his colleagues that the legislation will not cost the state a dime.

"The Illinois Dream Act would be funded entirely, entirely with private contributions, and would cost taxpayers nothing," Acevedo said during debate on the legislation.

Quinn released a statement following passage of the measure saying he will sign it.

“I believe everyone has the right to a first-class education, and the Illinois DREAM Act strengthens Illinois’ commitment to ensuring education for all," Quinn said. "The legislation allows private funding to be used to help students pay for higher education and to train high school counselors to assist undocumented children forward their educational careers.â€

Illinois to Create Private Scholarship Fund for Children of Undocumented Immigrants

Published May 31, 2011

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn is expected to sign a bill that would create a private college scholarship fund for the children of undocumented immigrants.

Illinois is on the verge of becoming the first state to create a private college scholarship fund for the children of undocumented immigrants.

The Illinois House, which on Thursday passed a state version of the DREAM Act by a 61-53 vote, sent a bill to Gov. Pat Quinn that would set up a state fund that would route privately funded college scholarships to as many as 95,000 children of undocumented immigrants.

The children would be able to obtain private college scholarships and enroll in state savings programs.

The measure, which Quinn, a Democrat, has said he plans to sign, had already passed the state Senate.

In a statement released after the House passed the measure, Quinn said: "I believe everyone has the right to a first-class education, and the Illinois DREAM Act strengthens Illinois' commitment to ensuring education for all."

"The legislation allows private funding to be used to help students pay for higher education and to train high school counselors to assist undocumented children forward their educational careers."

Supporters praised the legislation as a much-needed way to offer financial help to undocumented immigrants who graduate from Illinois high schools and want to continue their studies in college but can't afford it.

The Illinois Dream Act would create a panel to raise private money for college scholarships and let the children of immigrants join programs that help them invest money and save for college.

"These students deserve an opportunity. They work hard. We send them through grade school, we send them through high school, then we slam a door in their face and say `Oh well, all the hard work is for nothing. You can't go to college,"' said state Rep. Edward Acevedo, D-Chicago.

To qualify for the college savings pool, students must have a Social Security number or taxpayer identification number. Scholarship recipients must have at least one immigrant parent and the student must have attended school in Illinois for at least three years.

Carla Navoa, a 22-year-old student at the University of Illinois at Chicago who is in the country illegally, lobbied for the bill because it will help others like her pay for college.

She said she currently isn't enrolled in college because of the financial stress on her family with a younger sister in college, too.

"Having access to this Dream Fund would really help us," Navoa said.

Opponents have criticized the legislation as improper because it provides benefits that could help people who violate immigration laws. They also have complained it's confusing because of proposed federal legislation by the same name that would give some illegal immigrants a path to citizenship.

The Illinois Dream Act has no impact on a person's immigration status and it doesn't offer a path to citizenship.

This is based on a story by The Associated Press.

Read more: http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/politi ... z1NxBHWkVf

Contact Governor Pat Quinn and let him know he's "Fired!"

http://www2.illinois.gov/gov/Pages/Cont ... ernor.aspx

Typical of the Democratic party pushing this trash bill through. They are really pushing to get every tacoland vote they can.