Thread: Pass In-State Tuition Bill

Pass In-State Tuition Bill
February 26, 2007


Connecticut is losing many of its skilled, educated workers. Enlightened self-interest dictates, therefore, that the legislature pass a bill that would allow undocumented immigrant high school students who live in Connecticut to pay in-state tuition to attend state-run colleges.

An almost identical measure barely failed to win approval in 2005. At best, fewer than 250 individuals across the state are likely to benefit. That's hardly going to solve Connecticut's skilled labor problems.

But as long as these young people, typically in the lower income brackets, are contributing to the state's economy by their presence, it makes sense to enable them to become even more productive members of society.

Depending on the school that the students attend, the cost of out-of-state tuition can be double or triple that of in-state tuition.

Ten other states already allow undocumented immigrants who live there to pay in-state tuition. Courts have upheld the legality of the law in Kansas and California. To qualify for in-state tuition, the Connecticut proposal requires that the students must have attended an in-state high school for at least two years and graduated.

The measure also requires that the students file affidavits stating they have applied or intend to apply for legal immigration status. That's fair. The students should be on the path to citizenship or some form of legal resident status.


http://link.toolbot.com/courant.com/66708

Connecticut is losing many of its skilled, educated workers. Enlightened self-interest dictates, therefore, that the legislature pass a bill that would allow undocumented immigrant high school students who live in Connecticut to pay in-state tuition to attend state-run colleges.

What a ridiculous comment! Is the writer of this article attempting to tell us that college seats are going unfilled in Connecticut? If so, why not provide more financial assistance to American citizens? I'm sure there are a lot American kids in Connecticut that would fill those seats if it was financially affordable for their family.

My advice is, take the money it would cost to allow criminal aliens to attend college and shift into a financial assistance program for needy Connecticut children! Of course my advice doesn't solve the real issue here, which the writer of the article completely ignores. Trust me, this isn't about technical jobs going unfilled in Connecticut no more than it's about the man on the moon.