Thread: UT: Tuition repeal loses but could be revived

http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0%2C1249 ... %2C00.html

Wed, Jan 31, 2007

Tuition repeal loses but could be revived

By Deborah Bulkeley
Deseret Morning News
A bill to repeal in-state tuition for undocumented students could resurface in the House today after it died Tuesday on a 37-37 tie vote.
Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret Morning NewsRep. Glenn Donnelson speaks out Tuesday in support of his bill to repeal in-state tuition benefits for undocumented students. The only lawmaker absent from Tuesday's vote was Rep. Keith Grover, R-Provo, a co-sponsor of HB224, which would repeal a 2002 law allowing undocumented students to pay in-state tuition if they attend a Utah high school for three years and graduate.
"We just need to keep trying," said Rep. Glenn Donnelson, R-North Ogden, the bill's sponsor.
Donnelson hinted strongly that he'd attempt to bring the bill back, saying he has the needed support from a lawmaker who voted against HB224. According to House rules, the bill could be brought back with a majority vote today, but someone who voted in opposition would have to make the motion.
"I'm always optimistic," Donnelson said. "I have to work hard."
This is the fourth year that Donnelson has sponsored the repeal and the first time it has seen a debate on the House floor. Last year, the bill was held from House debate, in large part by the efforts of former Rep. David Ure, who sponsored the tuition law. Ure, among those at the Capitol Tuesday to advocate against HB224, acknowledged the bill could resurface.
"It was fun to win the first round," Ure said Tuesday. "I'd rather win the final round."
Also at the Capitol, Valery Pozo, a member of the organization Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano/a de Atzlan at the University of Utah, said, "It was just really impressive that they realize education is so important for these children."
Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. has said he supports the current law, and Mike Mower, the governor's spokesman said, "We were pleased with today's vote. It's an issue we will continue to follow with great interest."
For Alex Segura, director of the anti-illegal immigration group Utah Minuteman Project, the vote indicated "the bill is a viable bill. ... Legislators are putting the compassionate thing aside and looking at the law for a change."
Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret Morning NewsThe House tally shows the measure losing with a tie vote. Tuesday's split vote came after more than an hour of debate on the floor, focusing largely on issues of fairness, equal opportunity and a need for federal action. Reps. Karen Morgan, D-Cottonwood Heights, and Carl Duckworth, D-Magna, were the only two Democrats to vote for the repeal. Twenty Republicans voted with opponents.
"There is something wrong with a law that gives a greater benefit to those who are (here illegally) than those who follow our laws," Donnelson said.
Donnelson also pointed to Utah's potential liability for violation of federal law. The dismissal of a federal lawsuit over a similar law in Kansas is under appeal to the same court that oversees Utah. Utah's attorney general has said the tuition law is sound.
But Rep. Steve Mascaro, R-West Jordan, said the repeal would punish the students for the federal government's failure to act.
"Any one of us would tell our children to get good grades, go on to college," he said. "These children are doing that and now we want to punish them."
"This bill is about equality, it's about equal opportunity for everyone," said Minority Leader Ralph Becker, D-Salt Lake. "It's also about compassion and sympathy."
The bill would grandfather in all students who enroll before May 1, 2007. Rep. Roger Barrus, R-Centerville, voted against HB224 after suggesting another lawmaker amend the bill to grandfather in all students who enroll before May 1, 2010, to give Congress time to address the immigration issue. Barrus said he couldn't introduce the amendment for technical reasons.
"I'd just hate to see those students in high school not have that opportunity," he said. "Right now we have a broken law."
Following the vote, Barrus said if the issue resurfaces, he may have the opportunity to amend the bill.
"We already have a group of kids in high school, wouldn't it be awful to not give them any hope?" he said.
But Rep. Greg Hughes, R-Draper, said the state was creating a "second-class citizen track" for the undocumented students since they can't work after graduating without committing document fraud or identity theft.
"Once these young people have this degree in hand, we've left them with few choices," he said.
And Rep. Christopher Herrod, R-Provo, said the tuition waiver equates to rewarding illegal immigration, which he called "a slap in the face to everyone else in the world who has tried to come here legally."

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Rep. Christopher Herrod, R-Provo, said the tuition waiver equates to rewarding illegal immigration, which he called "a slap in the face to everyone else in the world who has tried to come here legally."

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Well at least someone has the concept....thank God!

[quote="redbadger"]

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Rep. Christopher Herrod, R-Provo, said the tuition waiver equates to rewarding illegal immigration, which he called "a slap in the face to everyone else in the world who has tried to come here legally."

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Well at least someone has the concept....thank God![/quote

Now if just a few more would get it. what is it going to take!!

Illegals shouldn't be attending American schools in the first place.

What is wrong with our leaders who don't know what illegal means? I think they are the ones who need to go back to school.

Originally Posted by Cindy

Illegals shouldn't be attending American schools in the first place.

What is wrong with our leaders who don't know what illegal means? I think they are the ones who need to go back to school.

Amazing, isn't it, CINDY?

and most of these people came out of Ivy League institutions of higher learning with the most expensive price tag in the country

Guess they were spending too much time smokin' the stuff and plagerizing instead of hitting the books. Some hefty family donations got a lot of them thru......TED THE SWIMMER ring any bells?

Frauds.......most of them.

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=852239

Immigration Bills Fuel Emotional Debate on the Hill
January 31st, 2007 @ 3:48pm
Richard Piatt Reporting

Utah lawmakers took on the emotional immigration issue again today. Two controversial bills went up for a vote. One is moving forward. The other is dead.

The tuition bill is the one that died. It would have taken away in-state tuition benefits for children of illegal immigrants. There are strong feelings about passing the bill here in the House of Representatives. But yesterday, the bill died in a tie vote. The sponsor had 24 hours to bring it back. This morning, that motion to reconsider failed.

It was a different story with another immigration bill in this House committee today. Here, the vote was along party lines: The majority of Republicans saying yes to allowing state and local police to arrest illegal immigrants. That's normally a federal function.

Again, emotion tinged every moment of the debate.

Matt Lyon, Opposes Bill: "I agree there may be racist tendencies and there may not be. But the fact is, there is a concern over racial profiling that does happen or it can happen."

Barbera Jean Whiteley, Supports Bill: "I think most of us love the Mexican people and are proud that they're here. But the main issue is the illegality of the issue."

Both the law enforcement bill and the tuition bill were sponsored by representative Glenn Donnelson, who has strong feelings about the issue. Another legislator, Democrat David Litvack has strong feelings on the other side.

Both sides will continue to fight until the federal government decides to take up the issue once and for all.