Thread: MD: Undocument students cheer vote for tuition bill

March 14, 2011

Undocument students cheer vote for tuition bill

A bill providing in-state tuition discounts for illegal immigrants just cleared the Senate on a 27 to 20 vote -- and the issue moves to the House.

The bill requires that illegal immigrants live and work in Maryland for three years before they qualify for lower tuition at state colleges and universities. It is a higher bar than legal citizens who move here from out of state.

The House is set to hold a hearing on the bill next week, though it is unclear if the body will vote on the measure before session is out. Some believe it will share the same fate as same sex marriage, which passed in the upper chamber only to be shelved in the House.

Supporters contended that the bill is intended to provide opportunities to children, many of whom did not choose to immigrate illegally. “This is about education and what the future of Maryland looks like,â€

12 in the Senate are Republicans
35 in the Senate are Democrats

43 in the House are Republicans
98 in the House are Democrats

DREAM act passes Senate, moves to House

By Yasmeen Abutaleb

Staff writer

Published: Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Updated: Tuesday, March 15, 2011 01:03

Undocumented students hoping to apply for in-state tuition at four-year colleges and universities received the official backing of the full state Senate yesterday in an expected vote that officially puts the issue in the hands of the House of Delegates.

Although many were anticipating the Senate's support after a positive preliminary vote last week, for many yesterday's vote was a major victory for the bill, which has become known as the state's DREAM Act — a reference to the federal Development, Relief and Education for Minors Act, which failed during the U.S. Congress' lame duck session last year.

Following the debate and subsequent vote, students, many of whom identified themselves as being in this country illegally and wore graduation gowns to symbolize their educational aspirations, applauded legislators, who passed SB 167 in a 27 to 20 vote.

If signed into law, the bill would offer undocumented immigrants who have gone to high school in this state, completed 60 credits at a local community college and proven they and their parents have paid state income taxes for at least three years the opportunity to qualify for in-state tuition rates.

Now, with the bill's approval in the Senate, all eyes have turned to the House, which will hold a hearing on the measure next week. Because no legislators have yet made it clear whether the bill will be voted on before the session is out, many fear the bill will be sent to die in committee — just as happened to the same-sex marriage resolution last Friday after passing the upper chamber.

No Republican senators voted for the bill last night, and several said the price tag influenced their votes. State budget analysts have estimated that if implemented the law would cost about $800,000 next year but could increase to $3.5 million by 2016.

"Under this bill, parents who can't even afford their own children's higher education will be subsidizing the higher education of those illegally in our state, and people are going to have a problem with that," Sen. Bryan Simonaire (R-Anne Arundel) said in a phone interview following last night's vote. "We have billions in backlog maintenance, and if you look at the education side, we can't even provide the mandated funding level for K through 12 children."

Sen. Jim Rosapepe (D-Prince George's) said the Senate vote is by no means a predictor of what the House will decide. He also added student input played a significant role in pushing senators to support the initiative.

"I think the students and the universities have worked hard for this; they really did a good job and helped people understand that this is good for everybody," Rosapepe said in a phone interview following the vote. "We need more young people to get good educations, and this is what it's about — making college affordable. It's an encouraging sign, but we'll have to wait and see what happens in the House."

www.diamonbackonline.com

The people who voted for this bill are total idiots. Americans should pass a federal law that denies federal funding to any state higher education system that allows illegal aliens to attend its colleges and universities at any price, in-state or out-state tuition.

US taxpayers aren't breaking their backs every day to pay their bills and pay their taxes to have 1 dime of those payments spent on benefits of any kind to illegal aliens let alone college educations.

DemoQuacks who claim they care about education and want to educate illegal aliens need to pass their own hats and collect their own private donations to pay for the deportation of these students with their parents at their sides and send them all home with several billion to build some colleges and universities in their home countries.

God knows Gates, Buffet and Carlos Slim certainly have enough dough to do it. There's no reason for these people to have college educations financed by people who couldn't afford to send themselves or their own kids to college.

This bill will be moving on to the House now. If you are making calls to the Reps and are asked for an address use this one:

5201 Park Heights Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21215

It's the address for Pimlico Race Track. If illegals can call and make their voices heard we can do the same! they should NOT be able to have any influence with OUR Representatives. I see nothing wrong with shading the truth about an address to use with the Reps., but if anyone ( mods) does please feel free to remove the address.

Afzali, Kathryn L. (R), District 4A
e-mail: kathy.afzali@house.state.md.us
Alston, Tiffany T. (D), District 24
e-mail: tiffany.alston@house.state.md.us
Anderson, Curtis S. (Curt) (D), District 43
e-mail: curt.anderson@house.state.md.us
e-mail: curtanderson43@aol.com
Arora, Sam (D), District 19
e-mail: sam.arora@house.state.md.us
Aumann, Susan L. M. (R), District 42
e-mail: susan.aumann@house.state.md.us

Barkley, Charles E. (D), District 39
e-mail: charles.barkley@house.state.md.us
Barnes, Benjamin S. (D), District 21
e-mail: ben.barnes@house.state.md.us
Barve, Kumar P. (D), District 17
e-mail: kumar.barve@house.state.md.us
e-mail: kumar@kumarbarve.com
Bates, Gail H. (R), District 14B
e-mail: gail.bates@house.state.md.us
Beidle, Pamela G. (D), District 32
e-mail: pamela.beidle@house.state.md.us
Beitzel, Wendell R. (R), District 1A
e-mail: wendell.beitzel@house.state.md.us
Bobo, Elizabeth (D), District 12B
e-mail: elizabeth.bobo@house.state.md.us
Bohanan, John L., Jr. (D), District 29B
e-mail: john.bohanan@house.state.md.us
Boteler, Joseph C., III (R), District 8
e-mail: joseph.boteler@house.state.md.us
Branch, Talmadge (D), District 45
e-mail: talmadge.branch@house.state.md.us
Braveboy, Aisha N. (D), District 25
e-mail: aisha.braveboy@house.state.md.us
Bromwell, Eric M. (D), District 8
e-mail: eric.bromwell@house.state.md.us
Burns, Emmett C., Jr. (D), District 10
e-mail: emmett.burns@house.state.md.us
Busch, Michael E. (D), District 30
e-mail: michael.busch@house.state.md.us

Cane, Rudolph C. (D), District 37A
e-mail: rudolph.cane@house.state.md.us
Cardin, Jon S. (D), District 11
e-mail: jon.cardin@house.state.md.us
Carr, Alfred C., Jr.. (D), District 18
e-mail: alfred.carr@house.state.md.us
Carter, Jill P. (D), District 41
e-mail: jill.carter@house.state.md.us
Clagett, Galen R. (D), District 33A
e-mail: galen.clagett@house.state.md.us
Clippinger, Luke H. (D), District 46
e-mail: luke.clippinger@house.state.md.us
Cluster, John W. E., Jr. (R), District 8
e-mail: john.cluster@house.state.md.us
Conaway, Frank M., Jr. (D), District 40
e-mail: frank.conaway@house.state.md.us
Conway, Norman H. (D), District 38
e-mail: norman.conway@house.state.md.us
Costa, Robert A. (R), District 33B
e-mail: robert.costa@house.state.md.us
Cullison, Bonnie L. (D), District 19
e-mail: bonnie.cullison@house.state.md.us

Davis, Dereck E. (D), District 25
e-mail: dereck.davis@house.state.md.us
DeBoy, Steven J., Sr. (D), District 12A
e-mail: steven.deboy@house.state.md.us
Donoghue, John P. (D), District 2C
e-mail: john.donoghue@house.state.md.us
Dumais, Kathleen M. (D), District 15
e-mail: kathleen.dumais@house.state.md.us
Dwyer, Don H., Jr. (R), District 31
e-mail: don.dwyer@house.state.md.us

Eckardt, Adelaide C. (R), District 37B
e-mail:adelaide.eckardt@house.state.md.us
Elliott, Donald B. (R), District 4B
e-mail: donald.elliott@house.state.md.us

Feldman, Brian J. (D), District 15
e-mail: brian.feldman@house.state.md.us
Fisher, Mark N. (R), District 27B
e-mail: mark.fisher@house.state.md.us
Frank, William J. (R), District 42
e-mail: william.frank@house.state.md.us
Frick, C. William (D), District 16
e-mail: bill.frick@house.state.md.us
Frush, Barbara A. (D), District 21
e-mail: barbara.frush@house.state.md.us

Gaines, Tawanna P. (D), District 22A
e-mail: tawanna.gaines@house.state.md.us
George, Ronald A. (R), District 30
e-mail: ron.george@house.state.md.us
Gilchrist, James W. (D), District 17
e-mail: jim.gilchrist@house.state.md.us
Glass, Glen (R), District 34A
e-mail: glen.glass@house.state.md.us
Glenn, Cheryl D. (D), District 45
e-mail: cheryl.glenn@house.state.md.us
Griffith, Melony G. (D), District 25
e-mail: melony.griffith@house.state.md.us
Gutierrez, Ana Sol (D), District 18
e-mail: ana.gutierrez@house. state.md.us
Guzzone, Guy J. (D), District 13
e-mail: guy.guzzone@house.state.md.us

Haddaway-Riccio, Jeannie (R), District 37B
e-mail: jeannie.haddaway@house.state.md.us
Hammen, Peter A. (D), District 46
e-mail: peter.hammen@house.state.md.us
Harrison, Hattie N. (D), District 45
e-mail: hattie.harrison@house.state.md.us
Haynes, Keith E. (D), District 44
e-mail: keith.haynes@house.state.md.us
Healey, Anne (D), District 22A
e-mail: anne.healey@house.state.md.us
Hershey, Stephen S., Jr. (R), District 36
e-mail: steve.hershey@house.state.md.us
Hixson, Sheila E. (D), District 20
e-mail: sheila.hixson@house.state.md.us
Hogan, Patrick N. (R), District 3A
e-mail: patrick.hogan@house.state.md.us
Holmes, Marvin E., Jr. (D), District 23B
e-mail: marvin.holmes@house.state.md.us
Hough, Michael J. (R), District 3B
e-mail: michael.hough@house.state.md.us
Howard, Carolyn J. B. (D), District 24
e-mail: carolyn.howard@house.state.md.us
Hubbard, James W. (D), District 23
e-mail: james.hubbard@house.state.md.us
Hucker, Tom (D), District 20
e-mail: tom.hucker@house.state.md.us

Impallario, Richard K. (R), District 7
e-mail: rick.impallario@house.state.md.us
Ivey, Jolene (D), District 47
e-mail: jolene.ivey@house.state.md.us

Jacobs, Jay A. (R), District 36
e-mail: jay.jacobs@house.state.md.us
Jameson, Sally Y. (D), District 28
e-mail: sally.jameson@house.state.md.us
James, Mary-Dulany (D), District 34A
e-mail: mary.dulany.james@house.state.md.us
Jones, Adrienne A. (D), District 10
e-mail: adrienne.jones@house.state.md.us

Kach, A. Wade (R), District 9A
e-mail: a.wade.kach@house.state.md.us
Kelly, Ariana B. (D), District 16
e-mail: ariana.kelly@house.state.md.us
Kelly, Kevin (D), District 1B
e-mail: kevin.kelly@house.state.md.us
Kaiser, Anne R. (D), District 14
e-mail: anne.kaiser@house.state.md.us
Kipke, Nicholaus R. (R), District 31
e-mail: nicholaus.kipke@house.state.md.us
Kramer, Benjamin F. (D), District 19
e-mail: ben.kramer@house.state.md.us
Krebs, Susan W. (R), District 9B
e-mail: susan.krebs@house.state.md.us

Lafferty, Stephen W. (D), District 42
e-mail: stephen.lafferty@house.state.md.us
Lee, Susan C. (D), District 16
e-mail: susan.lee@house.state.md.us
Love, Mary Ann (D), District 32
e-mail: maryann.love@house.state.md.us
Luedtke, Eric G. (D), District 14
e-mail: eric.luedtke@house.state.md.us

Malone, James E., Jr. (D), District 12A
e-mail: james.malone@house.state.md.us
McComas, Susan K. (R), District 35B
e-mail: susan.mccomas@house.state.md.us
McConkey, Tony (R), District 33A
e-mail: tony.mcconkey@house.state.md.us
McDermott, Michael A. (R), District 38B
e-mail: mike.mcdermott@house.state.md.us
McHale, Brian K. (D), District 47A
e-mail: brian.mchale@house.state.md.us
McIntosh, Maggie (D), District 42
e-mail: maggie.mcintosh@house.state.md.us
e-mail: delmaggie@aol.com
McMillan, Herbert H. (R), District 30
e-mail: herb.mcmillan@house.state.md.us
Miller, Warren E. (R), District 9A
e-mail: warren.miller@house.state.md.us
Minnick, Joseph J. (D), District 7
e-mail: joseph.minnick@house.state.md.us
Mitchell, Keiffer J., Jr. (D), District 44
e-mail: keiffer.mitchell@house.state.md.us
Mizeur, Heather R. (D), District 20
e-mail: heather.mizeur@house.state.md.us
Morhaim, Dan K. (D), District 11
e-mail: dan.morhaim@house.state.md.us
e-mail: dmorhaim@bcpl.net
Murphy, Peter F. (D), District 28
e-mail: peter.murphy@house.state.md.us
Myers, LeRoy E., Jr. (R), District 1C
e-mail: leroy.myers@house.state.md.us

Nathan-Pulliam, Shirley (D), District 10
e-mail: shirley.nathan.pulliam@house.state.md.us
Niemann, Doyle L. (D), District 47
e-mail: doyle.niemann@house.state.md.us
Norman, H. Wayne, Jr. (R), District 35A
e-mail: wayne.norman@house.state.md.us

Oaks, Nathaniel T. (D), District 41
e-mail: nathaniel.oaks@house.state.md.us
O'Donnell, Anthony J. (R), District 29C
e-mail: anthony.odonnell@house.state.md.us
Olszewski, John A., Jr. (D), District 6
e-mail: john.olszewski@house.state.md.us
Otto, Charles J. (R), District 38A
e-mail: charles.otto@house.state.md.us

Parrott, Neil C. (R), District 2B
e-mail: neil.parrott@house.state.md.us
Pena-Melnyk, Joseline A. (D), District 21
e-mail: joseline.pena.melnyk@house.state.md.us
Pendergrass, Shane E. (D), District 13
e-mail: shane.pendergrass@house.state.md.us
Proctor, James E., Jr. (D), District 27A
e-mail: james.proctor@house.state.md.us

Ready, Justin D. (R), District 5A
e-mail: justin.ready@house.state.md.us
Reznik, Kirill (D), District 39
e-mail: kirill.reznik@house.state.md.us
Robinson, A. Shane (D), District 39
e-mail: shane.robinson@house.state.md.us
Robinson, Barbara A. (D), District 40
e-mail: barbara.robinson@house.state.md.us
Rosenberg, Samuel I. (D), District 42
e-mail: samuel.rosenberg@house.state.md.us
Ross, Justin D. (D), District 22
e-mail: justin.ross@house.state.md.us
Rudolph, David D. (D), District 35B
e-mail: david.rudolph@house.state.md.us

Schuh, Steven R. (R), District 31
e-mail: steve.schuh@house.state.md.us
Schulz, Kelly M. (R), District 4A
e-mail: kelly.schulz@house.state.md.us
Serafini, Andrew A. (R), District 2A
e-mail: andrew.serafini@house.state.md.us
Simmons, Luiz R. S. (D), District 17
e-mail: luiz.simmons@house.state.md.us
Smigiel, Michael D., Sr. (R), District 36
e-mail: michael.smigiel@house.state.md.us
Sophocleus, Theodore J. (D), District 32
e-mail: ted.sophocleus@house.state.md.us
Stein, Dana M. (D), District 11
e-mail: dana.stein@house.state.md.us
Stifler, Donna (R), District 35A
e-mail: donna.stifler@house.state.md.us
Stocksdale, Nancy R. (R), District 5
e-mail: nancy.stocksdale@house.state.md.us
Stukes, Melvin L. (D), District 44
e-mail: melvin.stukes@house.state.md.us
Summers, Michael G. (D), District 47
e-mail: michael.summers@house.state.md.us
Szeliga, Kathy (R), District 7
e-mail: kathy.szeliga@house.state.md.us

Tarrant, Shawn Z. (D), District 40
e-mail: shawn.tarrant@house.state.md.us
Turner, Frank S. (D), District 13
e-mail: frank.turner@house.state.md.us
Turner, Veronica (D), District 26
e-mail: veronica.turner@house.state.md.us

Valderrama, Kriselda (D), District 26
e-mail: kris.valderrama@house.state.md.us
Valentino-Smith, Geraldine (D), District 23A
e-mail: geraldine.valentino@house.state.md.us
Vallario, Joseph F., Jr. (D), District 27A
e-mail: joseph.vallario@house.state.md.us
Vaughn, Michael L. (D), District 24
e-mail: michael.vaughn@house.state.md.us
Vitale, Cathleen M. (R), District 33A
e-mail: cathy.vitale@house.state.md.us

Waldstreicher, Jeffrey D. (D), District 18
e-mail: jeff.waldstreicher@house.state.md.us
Walker, Jay (D), District 26
e-mail: jay.walker@house.state.md.us
Washington, Mary L. (D), District 43
e-mail: mary.washington@house.state.md.us
Weir, Michael H., Jr. (D), District 6
e-mail: michael.weir@house.state.md.us
Wilson, C. T. (D), District 28
e-mail: ct.wilson@house.state.md.us
Wood, John F., Jr. (D), District 29A
e-mail: john.wood@house.state.md.us

Zucker, Craig J. (D), District 14
e-mail: craig.zucker@house.state.md.us

Md. Senators Pass Immigrant In-State Tuition Bill

Bill Still Needs House OK, O'Malley Signature

POSTED: 11:13 pm EDT March 14, 2011
UPDATED: 12:31 pm EDT March 15, 2011

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Maryland senators have passed the bill that gives an in-state tuition break to undocumented students.

The bill, passed in a 27-20 vote Monday night, still must be approved by the House of Delegates before going to Gov. Martin O'Malley, who has said he would sign it.

During debate, Sen. Victor Ramirez, the bill sponsor who immigrated legally as a child from El Salvador, told opponents that voting against the bill would not solve problems relating to people living illegally in the state. He said the legislation was needed to help people who live here reach their potential and contribute as much as possible to the state.

"It's about education," Ramirez, D-Prince George's, said. "It's not about immigration."

The financial implications for students are significant. In-state tuition is $8,416 annually, and out-of-state students pay $24,831 a year.

Opponents said the legislation raised the issue of who subsidizes the education of illegal immigrants covered by the legislation, not whether or not they can attend college.

"I think this sends a terrible message to everyone in the state that you can break the law and you can get a benefit."
- Sen. Allan Kittleman, R-Howard
"I think this sends a terrible message to everyone in the state that you can break the law and you can get a benefit," said Sen. Allan Kittleman, R-Howard.

But Sen. Nancy King, D-Montgomery, pointed out the state already is required by law to educate children of illegal immigrants from kindergarten through 12th grade.

"They are here," King said. "They are going to be living here. They are not leaving."

Critics cited the cost as a reason why they opposed the bill.

Sen. E.J. Pipkin, R-Cecil, noted how the state has been enduring budget cuts for years, and he cited the closing of a mental health facility on the Eastern Shore as an example of how longtime citizens have lost services during the recession.

"But we found the money for this, if we pass this bill," Pipkin said, adding, "This bill clearly crowds out from our universities those who are here legally as well."

"They are here. They are going to be living here. They are not leaving."
- Sen. Nancy King, D-Montgomery

The measure has an estimated cost of about $800,000 in 2014, $1.6 million in 2015 and $3.5 million in 2016. All are fiscal years.

Since 2001, 10 states have enacted laws to allow undocumented immigrants to pay in-state tuition rates at public universities.

They are California, Illinois, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah and Washington.

The Maryland Senate voted for the bill at a time when many states are working toward cracking down on those who come to the U.S. illegally. The Senate made some changes to the bill last week in order to better ensure people who qualify have been in the country for some time.

For example, students would have to attend community college in a jurisdiction where they went to high school before qualifying for in-state tuition rates at a four-year college or university. Students also would have to spend three years in high school instead of the two years first proposed to be eligible.

That change made the bill similar to legislation that was approved in 2003. It was vetoed by former Gov. Robert Ehrlich, a Republican.


http://www.wbaltv.com/r/27196514/detail.html

The bill requires that illegal immigrants live and work in Maryland for three years before they qualify for lower tuition at state colleges and universities. It is a higher bar than legal citizens who move here from out of state.

Higher bar? What a f'ing joke! And what type of proof is going to be required to establish they have been in Maryland for three years? An electric bill stolen from one of their illegal invading cohorts?

Isn't against the law in Maryland for illegal invaders to be working? I guess the law no longer matters in Maryland. Another defacto amnesty, piece by piece....

"They are here," King said. "They are going to be living here. They are not leaving."

It makes my blood boil when I hear this in your face comment, "they (illegal invaders) are not leaving!" Its bad enough when an ignorant illegal invader is spouting off at the mouth and utters those words; it's quite another when someone elected by American citizens to represent their best interests says it! This is what happens when elected officials who are supposed to be looking out for us surrender to illegal invaders and their advocates!

It's nothing short of treason in my opinion!

Victor Ramirez. i guess that is all we need to look at to see who wrote the bill and thinks its a good thing..
Would Ramirez be doing this if the majority of the people here illegally were not of the same ethnic background as he was........ i highly doubt it.
How does he expect these people to contribute when they are illegals and its against the law to hire illegals?

as for Ms King's Comments. those are the most absurd comments anyone can say. just a lame excuse to vote for the bill.

Originally Posted by jamesw62

Victor Ramirez. i guess that is all we need to look at to see who wrote the bill and thinks its a good thing..
Would Ramirez be doing this if the majority of the people here illegally were not of the same ethnic background as he was........ i highly doubt it.
How does he expect these people to contribute when they are illegals and its against the law to hire illegals?

as for Ms King's Comments. those are the most absurd comments anyone can say. just a lame excuse to vote for the bill.

During the testimony for against this bill Senator Joan Carter Conway ACTUALLY said "I don't wanna hear nutin bout da consitution!!"
Maryland has total morons voting in these incompetents. CASA de Maryland RUNS THE STATE of Maryland. CASA needs to be investigated!
O'Malley never met an illlegal alien he didnt' love. He treats them much better than the taxpayers who are raped on a daily basis.
He calls illegal aliens "New Americans." Chicago ain't got NUTHIN on Maryland's politicians.

It really is a sickening thing to see. BTW Ramirez was born in El Salvadore. It is pretty obvious to see where his allegiance lies.

It really is a sickening thing to see. BTW Ramirez was born in El Salvadore. It is pretty obvious to see where his allegiance lies.

that is why i said why i said it.
the loyalties definately lie with his ethnic background