Tennessee Governor Haslam Supports In State Tuition for Illegal Aliens

TIRRC




Dear Friend,


Earlier this week you received an email from TIRRC's Policy Director, Lisa, about the first vote on our tuition opportunity bill. The committee was cancelled as a result of the president's visit yesterday, and the vote has been rescheduled for next week. In response to that email, we've heard the same question from many of our supporters: do you really think you can pass a bill to grant in-state tuition to undocumented students in this climate?


This isn't the first time we've heard this question. When we launched the campaign in 2012, as we worked to defeat more than 30 anti-immigrant bills in the state legislature that year, many thought we were overly optimistic and even a little naive. But just three years later, we came within one vote of passing our bill in one of the nation's most conservative legislatures. We haven't given up, and we believe our campaign is stronger than ever.





Since we launched the campaign, immigrant and education organizations across the state have pledged their support for the campaign and joined our coalition, business leaders and chambers of commerce have endorsed our bill, and farmers across the state voted to include the bill in the Farm Bureau's legislative priorities for the last two years.This week we learned that Governor Haslam supports SB1014, our Tuition Opportunity bill. In 2013, the governor launched Drive to 55, a campaign to increase the number of college graduates to 55% by 2025. Tuition Opportunity aligns with the governor's goal of reducing barriers to higher education and creating a more educated workforce to drive economic growth and fill skilled labor shortages. Supporting Tuition Opportunity is not only the right thing to do, it's the smart thing to do.

In 2016, dozens of students who would benefit from tuition opportunity urged the governor to support their dreams of achieving a higher education.

Please take 2 minutes to thank Governor Haslam.

Call him at: (615) 741-2001

https://tdbpublicimages.s3.amazonaws...9951b80b1a.jpg

Script:

“Hi, my name is __________. I live in _______, TN. I want to thank Governor Haslam for supporting tuition opportunity for all Tennesseans regardless of immigration status. I am grateful for the governor’s support of SB 1014, a bill that would allow certain undocumented Tennessee students the opportunity achieve their dreams of a higher education."

* If you are a DREAMER or an educator please tell them what the governor’s support means to you!


Our momentum is building.

We hope you'll join the campaign this year. Stay tuned for calls to action and ways to engage your representatives. And we hope you'll consider making a donation to fuel our community organizing work that leads to powerful campaigns like Tuition Opportunity.

With hope

Stephanie Teatro, Co-Executive Director

P.S. For the past five years, the Tuition Opportunity campaign has been led by visionary, courageous, and relentless undocumented youth. Next Wednesday, undocumented students and their teachers will head to the capitol for our Tuition Opportunity Day on the Hill. If you're an educator or a Dreamer, we hope you'll join us!

https://tdbpublicimages.s3.amazonaws...7e6749c0b1.png

http://www3.thedatabank.com/dpg/267/...3&Publication=

Tennessee, do not pass this bill. What is wrong with you? This bill shouldn't even be in the news because it shouldn't even exist. This is an Anti-America bill, a bill that cheats Americans, a bill that robs American Kids of their educations and future job opportunities, a bill that betrays their parents and grandparents. This is an evil bill that says there is no difference between being a citizen of the United States and not being one. It's a treason bill. That's all it is.

SHAME ON YOU HASLAM.

Another Rick Perry. :roll:

Oh no! can someone tell us when and where this bill will come up for a vote next week?? SB 014 will come up for a vote next week??

W

Here is some more information.

https://legiscan.com/TN/bill/SB1014/2017


Senate Education Committee Members - Contact

http://www.capitol.tn.gov/Senate/com...education.html

********************

Senator Dolores Gresham - Chair
http://www.capitol.tn.gov/senate/members/s26.html

Contact Information

Address

301 6th Avenue North
Suite 308 War Memorial Bldg.
Nashville, TN 37243
Phone: (615) 741-2368
Fax: (615) 253-0204
District Address

16980 Highway 64
Somerville, TN 38068
Phone: (901) 465-9433
Fax: (901) 465-6330

*******************

Senator Reginald Tate
http://www.capitol.tn.gov/senate/members/s33.html


Nashville Address

301 6th Avenue North
Suite 320 War Memorial Bldg.
Nashville, TN 37243
Phone: (615) 741-2509
Fax: (615) 253-0167


********************

Senator Todd Gardenhire - In State Tuition Bill Sponsor
http://www.capitol.tn.gov/senate/members/s10.html



Nashville Address

301 6th Avenue North
Suite 11A Legislative Plaza
Nashville, TN 37243
Phone: (615) 741-6682
Fax: (615) 253-0209
District Address

P.O. Box 4506
Chattanooga, TN 37405



**********************

Senator Jim Tracy - Committee Member
http://www.capitol.tn.gov/senate/members/s14.html


Nashville Address
301 6th Avenue North
Suite 13 Legislative Plaza.
Nashville, TN 37243
Phone: 615-741-1066
Fax: 615-741-2255
District Address

506 North Main Street
Shelbyville, TN 37160

*************************





House Members - Contact

http://www.capitol.tn.gov/house/comm...education.html

TN SB1014 | 2017-2018 | 110th General Assembly



Tennessee Senate Bill 1014

TN State Legislature page for SB1014

---

• Summary
• Sponsors
• Texts
• Votes
• Research
• Comments
• Track

Status

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)
Status: Introduced on February 9 2017 - 25% progression
Action: 2017-03-15 - Placed on Senate Education Committee calendar for 3/22/2017
Pending: Senate Education Committee
Hearing: Mar 22 @ 12:30 pm in Legislative Plaza Room 12 Lp
Text: Latest bill text (Draft #1) [PDF]

Summary

As introduced, exempts certain students from payment of out-of-state tuition at state institutions of higher education. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 58; Title 49, Chapter 7; Title 49, Chapter 8 and Title 49, Chapter 9.

Tracking InformationRegister now for our free OneVote public service or GAITS Professional trial account and you can begin tracking this and other legislation, all driven by the real-time data of the LegiScan API. Providing tools allowing you to research pending legislation, stay informed with email alerts, content feeds, and share dynamic reports. Use our new PolitiCorps to join with friends and collegaues to monitor & discuss bills through the process.

Monitor Legislation or view this same bill number from multiple sessions or take advantage of our national legislative search.

Title

As introduced, exempts certain students from payment of out-of-state tuition at state institutions of higher education. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 58; Title 49, Chapter 7; Title 49, Chapter 8 and Title 49, Chapter 9.

Sponsors

Sen. Todd Gardenhire [R]

Sen. Steven Dickerson [R]

History

Date	Chamber	Action
2017-03-15	Senate	Placed on Senate Education Committee calendar for 3/22/2017
2017-03-14	Senate	Sponsor(s) Added.
2017-03-08	Senate	Placed on Senate Education Committee calendar for 3/15/2017
2017-02-13	Senate	Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Education Committee
2017-02-09	Senate	Introduced, Passed on First Consideration
2017-02-09	Senate	Filed for introduction

Same As/Similar To

HB0863 (Crossfiled) 2017-02-14 - Assigned to s/c Education Administration & Planning Subcommittee


Subjects

Education


Tennessee State Sources

Type	Source
Summary	http://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/Bill...=SB1014&ga=110
Text	http://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/110/Bill/SB1014.pdf

The Vote of the Senate Education Committee is tomorrow, Wednesday, March 22, 2017.

Illegal Aliens and their supporters will fill the halls and the offices of Tennessee lawmakers tomorrow. They will toss the sympathy card, telling personal stories and armed with talking points to influence the votes tomorrow. Citizens need to counter their false claims with reminders of who the lawmakers truly represent.


Please email or call the committee members to say "No" to In State Tuition for illegal aliens.

Targeted Senators are Gresham, Tracy, Kelsey, Crowe.

http://www.capitol.tn.gov/Senate/com...education.html

Tennessee spends over 500 million dollars a year on illegal immigration.

Benefits such as in-state tuition are a magnet for more illegal immigration.

Tennesseans taxpayers must pay to give benefits to family members of illegal alien "dreamers."

DACA is not legal presence in the United States.

American children should be the focus.

Dreamers may be here through no fault of their own but it is not the fault of the American people who want this to stop.

Illegal Aliens bring gangs, drugs, criminal activity, death, poverty to communities and states.

Represent those who vote, the citizens.

Donald Trump won Tennessee and the election because the majority of the American people do not want to support any measures to benefit illegal aliens.


****************************
Website - The Opposition to enforcing our immigration laws and the illegal alien representatives for tomorrow.

https://www.facebook.com/tnimmigrant

Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition [TIRRC]
Like This Page · 20 hrs ·



This Wednesday, the Senate Education Committee will vote on SB1014, our bill that would grant in-state tuition to all students regardless of immigration status. Governor Haslam has already supported the bill, but we're calling senators Gresham, Kelsey, Crowe and Tracy to ask for their vote. Please take a few minutes to make these important phone calls!

https://www.facebook.com/tnimmigrant...type=3&theater

Please be aware that In State Tuition failed by One Vote last time in Tennessee.

Thank you for the update on this, we will put out an alert in the morning.

W

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ALIPAC

Thank you for the update on this, we will put out an alert in the morning.

W

---

Thank you William.

TAKE ACTION TODAY ALIPAC ACTIVISTS!!!

Call now (vote today) to stop in-state tuition for illegals in Tennessee!
https://www.alipac.us/f8/call-now-vo...nessee-345137/

Reminder: Today, illegal aliens, the "dreamers," will be at the legislature, talking to Tennessee lawmakers, members of the Senate Education Committee. They will be guided by the immigrant and refugee rights group, TIRRC, skilled at demonstrations and visual and vocal activism.

Please make calls, send emails, faxes following the outline from Alipac. Citizen voices are needed.

Senator Todd Gardenhire is the sponsor of SB 1014. He has a large Hispanic constituency.

Thank you for your efforts to stop in-state tuition.

Related:

https://www.alipac.us/f12/tennessee-...uition-345157/

Illegals 7 Vs. Americans 2 !

https://www.alipac.us/f8/illegals-7-...ns-2-a-345303/

Haslam’s ‘Drive to 55’ Used to Give In-State Tuition to Illegal Immigrant Students


March 24, 2017


Chris Alto



During this week’s sessions in a House Education Subcommittee and the Senate Education Committee, Governor Haslam’s education agenda “Drive to 55” was the reason given for needing to pass bills that make illegal immigrant students in Tennessee eligible for in-state college tuition.

“Drive to 55″ refers to Haslam’s higher education reform umbrella that includes the TN Promise, LEAP, TN Reconnect and TN Advise” programs which are each intended to “increase the number of Tennesseans with a postsecondary degree or credential to 55 percent by the year 2025.”

Tennessee Star previously reported that Rep. White and Sen. Todd Gardenhire were carrying two sets of bills (SB104/HB863 and SB635/HB660), that if passed, would make in-state college tuition rates available to illegal immigrant students.

On Tuesday, Rep. Mark White’s bill, HB660 which would authorize the new college and university governing boards to decide which students are eligible to pay in-state tuition rates was taken up by the House Education Administration & Planning Subcommittee.

Almost immediately, Rep. Harry Brooks asked White whether he “intended this bill to create a mechanism for folks who are illegally in the country” to get in-state tuition?


White admitted “that is where this thought came from.” He also admitted that he has another bill (HB863), that addresses that issue specifically but that the HB660 bill under discussion, would relieve state legislators from having to vote whether to grant in-state tuition to illegal immigrant students and would instead, allow the new college and university boards to make the decision through rule-making. Any proposed rules would subsequently be reviewed by the legislature’s Government Operations Committee and the Attorney General to ensure that they are in line with state and federal law.

The federal Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act, signed into law by President Clinton, prohibits state colleges and universities from providing in-state tuition rates to illegal aliens “on the basis of residence within the State”—unless the same in-state rates are offered to all citizens of the United States.

The TN Board of Regents’ General Counsel informed the subcommittee that if White’s bill passes, it would create an exception to current Tennessee law which classifies in-state tuition is a state benefit.

The lobbyist for the University of Tennessee explained to the Subcommittee that as a result of Haslam’s TN Promise program that provides two tuition-free years at community college, UT Martin experienced a decline in freshman enrollment and White’s bill would give the school’s board the latitude to find other ways to fill their seats.

No vote was taken on White’s bill which will be reconsidered on March 28th.

The following day, however, SB1014, the Gardenhire/White bill that is overtly designed to give illegal immigrant students access to in-state college tuition, passed the Senate Education Committee on a 7-2 vote. Sen. Joey Hensley and Brian Kelsey voted “no” while Sen. Gresham, Dickerson, Crowe, Tracy, Gardenhire, Tate and Haile voted “yes.”

Sen. Gardenhire explained to the committee that the goal of “Drive to 55” cannot be reached without enabling the “estimated 13,000 undocumented” students in Tennessee to have the benefit of in-state tuition rates. Students who self-identified as illegal immigrants were in attendance and were asked by Sen. Gardenhire to stand and be recognized; they received a round of applause.

Sen. Jim Tracy offered a minor amendment to the bill that would allow students within 100 miles of Tennessee’s border to also access in-state tuition rates as a way to help UT Martin fill their open seats because “we need more students in college…we are not at full capacity now…I’m just trying to reach more students.”

Rep. White has put his companion bill, HB863 on notice in the House subcommittee for next week and Sen. Gardenhire has put the companion bill SB635 to Whites HB660, on the calendar in the Senate for next week.

In 2015, when Gardenhire and White first tried to pass their in-state tuition bill, Haslam said it had “merit” and this year, greeted the “undocumented” students outside the state capitol.

Gubernatorial candidate Randy Boyd is a member of the Partnership for a New American Economy that promotes in-state tuition for illegal immigrant students.

Sen. Mark Green who may forgo his run for governor voted for Gardenhire’s in-state tuition bill in 2015.

Sen. Mark Norris and Mae Beavers who have both said they are considering running in the 2018 Republican gubernatorial primary, each voted “no” in 2015 on Gardenhire’s in-state tuition bill.

Speaker Harwell whose decision to run in the 2018 gubernatorial race has been the subject of conflicting reports, absented herself during the House floor vote on the 2015 in-state tuition bill for illegal immigrant students.



http://tennesseestar.com/2017/03/24/...rant-students/

Sneaky ... this is soooo not real Tennessee. Tennessee doesn't want this, they don't want illegal aliens having advantages above US citizens. COME ON!! KILL THE BILL!! Both of these bills they're playing with are cheating Americans. These seats will not be empty. That's a lie.

College system endorses in-state tuition for undocumented students

March 31, 2017

Adam Tamburin


Tennessee's largest college system on Friday endorsed legislation that would allow undocumented students to pay the same as many of their peers to attend a public college.

State law requires undocumented students to pay out-of-state tuition, which is often two or three times higher than the in-state rates Tennessee residents pay. Sen. Todd Gardenhire, R-Chattanooga, and Rep. Mark White, R-Memphis, are sponsoring a bill that would allow most undocumented graduates of Tennessee high schools to pay in-state tuition at schools like Volunteer State Community College or the University of Tennessee.


During its quarterly board meeting, the Tennessee Board of Regents — which oversees the state's community and technical colleges — voted to support the Republican lawmakers' work. Barbara U. Prescott, a regent from Memphis who pushed the board to support the bill, said the current system turns a wide swath of students away from higher education.


“When we do not allow in-state tuition to these undocumented students we really are denying them access," she said. "They just really cannot pay the out-of-state tuition."


Undocumented students already face an uphill climb into higher education. Even undocumented students with a deferred action, a federal designation that allows them to live and work legally in the United States, cannot qualify for federal or state aid that makes college possible for millions.



The Board of Regents has supported past efforts to extend in-state tuition to undocumented students, arguing that it could boost enrollment and ultimately strengthen the state's workforce. On Friday, Prescott framed the issue of tuition as a matter of common sense, noting that Tennessee already spends money to educate undocumented students from kindergarten to senior year of high school.


“We have educated them and encouraged them and prepared them," she said. “We have many of these students in Memphis and Shelby County that work so hard. They are so dedicated, they want so much to be in college, and for them to not be able to get any other aid, and then on top of that to have to pay out-of-state tuition, just really robs them of access.”

• 
  

Gov. Bill Haslam has offered emphatic support for the bill this year, posing for photos alongside undocumented students on the steps of the Capitol. The bill also has cleared early critical hurdles in the Tennessee General Assembly, although it still needs to get through multiple committees before a final vote.


Critics of similar legislation have said in-state tuition for undocumented immigrants was unfair to those who entered the country legally. Critics also said it could encourage more undocumented immigrants to come to Tennessee. None of the regents were critical during their meeting.
"These are Tennesseans," said Alex Fitzner, the faculty regent who teaches at Pellissippi State Community College in Knoxville. "We’ve educated them in our schools. Let's continue educating them so they can contribute to our workforce and contribute to our economy and contribute to our culture."



http://www.tennessean.com/story/news...ents/99723748/

Hey, illegal aliens all over America!! New York is passing free college tuition for everyone earning less than $100,000 a year. You all should move there and sign up for free school, heck with that "in-state tuition", move to New York for the FULL BANANA!!

Cuomo and De Blasio will even find you a place to live there. Oh yeah, they have rent control and everything.

:)

In-state tuition fails by one vote in a House Committee. Too close though a win.

https://www.alipac.us/f12/tn-state-t...mittee-345967/

This is huge!! That means it's for this year, right?! This is a great victory, GeorgiaPeach!! By this time next year, they'll all be deported!

:)

Here is our ALIPAC National Press release on our activist win over this terrible bill in TN

Americans Defeat illegal alien backers in Tennessee & Maryland; now move on CA bill
https://www.alipac.us/f8/americans-d...a-bill-346016/

This accomplishment has been added to the ALIPAC 2017 accomplishments list at..
https://www.alipac.us/accomplishments/

Haslam laments failure of undocumented immigrant tuition bill

Adam Tamburin | USA TODAY NETWORK – Tennessee

Updated 12:20 p.m. CT April 18, 2017

Gov. Bill Haslam said he'd like to see lawmakers revive a bill that would give undocumented immigrants in-state tuition at Tennessee colleges.


The effort suffered its latest narrow defeat last week, when the legislation failed by one vote in the House Education Administration & Planning Committee after a formerly supportive representative flipped on the issue. A similar measure failed by one vote on the House floor in 2015.

"I was disappointed, obviously," Haslam said in an interview last week. "It was a bill that we have supported that we think is the right thing to do."

Twenty states already allow students to pay in-state tuition at public colleges. Haslam said he hopes to see Tennessee join those ranks eventually, although he stopped short of expressing optimism.


"When you're for something that loses you obviously hope it has a chance to win again sometime in the future," Haslam said. "Who knows what the environment will be then."

Another bill that would allow college boards to set requirements for in-state tuition was rolled to 2018. Many boards would likely favor offering undocumented students the in-state rate — the Tennessee Board of Regents already voted to support such efforts.

Advocates of the in-state tuition measures, including Haslam, say allowing undocumented students to pay in-state tuition rates at public colleges — rather than the more expensive rates for out-of-state students — would boost attendance and strengthen the state's workforce. But opponents, who pointedly attacked the bill at a press conference last week, slammed any attempt to accommodate people who came into the country illegally, even if they were young children at the time.

Some conservative lawmakers also warned the bill would act as a magnet, encouraging more immigrants to come to Tennessee illegally. Haslam rejected that argument.


"I think this is a bill that addressed people who are here — who have been here, been going to school — and gives them an opportunity," the governor said. "We think them having the option to realistically be able to afford school by paying in-state tuition is good for that individual and, long-term, is good for the state."

Students have been a key component of a statewide campaign to support the bill, led by the Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition. They have regularly traveled to Legislative Plaza to plead their cases directly with lawmakers.

Undocumented students are not eligible for federal or state-brokered financial aid. Many of them say the added hurdle of an out-of-state price tag takes college off the table altogether.

Last week, when the House committee killed the bill that would give them in-state tuition, students filled the committee room holding placards emblazoned with their career goals. They wept in the hallway after the vote.


Rep. Mark White, R-Memphis, pledged to continue to help those students by pushing the legislation. Students and staffers working with the coalition also said they would continue to fight.

"People are devastated but at the same time ready to work," said Stephanie Teatro, co-executive director at the coalition. "In other states, it took a decade — we're still incredibly optimistic."
Jake Lowary contributed to this report.



http://www.tennessean.com/story/news...ill/100421894/