Cal Grants for Illegal Immigrants?

Monday, January 30, 2006

Democrats in the state legislature have had a busy year so far. They have tried to keep the punishment for a person possessing 24 items of child pornography from qualifying as a felony, they have produced legislation to put a moratorium on the death penalty, and "One Bill Gil" re-introduced his pet bill to grant driver's licenses to illegal immigrants.

Senator Cedillo must have decided it was time to go for a new nickname, because today his legislation to give Cal Grants to illegal immigrants, SB 160, passed in the Senate 23-12.

Senator Cedillo's bill allows for illegal immigrants attending California colleges and universities to qualify to receive Cal Grants and other state financial aid as permitted by federal law. This could increase the cost of providing student financial aid by millions of dollars every year. Over time, the state would be responsible for an additional annual cost in the low ten millions as the number of eligible applicants increases and the maximum Cal Grant award rises.

There are already pending lawsuits over the fact that current state law allows for illegal immigrants to pay the lower in-state resident tuition when attending public colleges and universities that is not offered to legal citizens of out-of-state residents. Senator Cedillo's bill is likely to spark additional litigation and force taxpayers to pay for the defense of this inexcusable law.

Democrats in the Legislature have been quick to criticize Governor Schwarzenegger for not increasing education funding to satiate their uncontrollable spending desires even though he has proposed the largest budget for education in the history of the state this year. Amid all their blustering, these same Democrats voted to deny some hard-working California families access to the financial aid they need to send their children to college because illegal immigrants will now be eligible for funds from the same limited pot of money.

Will Democrats be calling their decision a "tax on the middle class" like they refer to other tuition and fee increases related to college and university expenses?

Senator Cedillo's bill passed through the Senate with absolutely no fanfare or debate. Democrats in the Assembly must do what's right for California families and vote "no" on SB 16

Here is a link for more information on Senator Cedillo's bill, SB 160:
http://info.sen.ca.gov/cgi-bin/postquer ... B&site=sen


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VIVA LA MIGRA!