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Immigration See other Immigration Articles Title: Immigrant Tuition Bill Falters in Md. Senate The threat of a Senate filibuster has stalled a bill approved by the House of Delegates that would offer in-state tuition to undocumented immigrants in Maryland. With the 90-day session ending Monday, the measure's chance of passing is dimming quickly. The bill's lack of progress underscores the extent to which immigration has become a flashpoint, even in a state as liberal as Maryland. Several lawmakers said this week that it was politically untenable to wade into the thorny issue of immigration legislation. The bill, which has the support of Gov. Martin O'Malley (D), was approved by the House last month, 81 to 57, after an emotional debate on the floor. Opponents of the bill argued during that debate that it sanctioned illegal immigration, whereas proponents said it was discriminatory not to offer the same tuition rates to all high school students. The bill has faced stiffer opposition in the Senate, where Sen. Joan Carter Conway (D-Baltimore City), who chairs the Senate Education, Health and Environment Committee, said yesterday that she didn't have enough votes to get the bill out of committee. Even if it were to move to the floor, a "filibuster seems very solid," she said. Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller (D-Calvert), who voted for a similar measure in 2003, said this week that it might be difficult for some senators to "justify subsidizing students when their parents came here illegally." Miller said that if a poll were taken of Maryland voters, they probably would oppose the bill 2 to 1. "It's going to be a close call if it comes on the floor of the Senate," he said. "It's a shame," said Del. Victor R. Ramirez (D-Prince George's), the bill's sponsor. "Their parents pay taxes; it's only fair that they pay in-state tuition." Dozens of students, wearing blue T-shirts that read, "We Have a Dream," rallied in front of the State House yesterday, urging lawmakers to pass the bill before the session ends. They were joined by several elected officials, including Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown (D) and Comptroller Peter Franchot (D). One student, who would give only his first name, Marco, said he was an honor roll student at Bladensburg High School. He said his dream was to be a pediatrician, but the cost of out-of-state tuition could stymie his goal. The difference between the in-state and out-of-state tuition rate at the University of Maryland is nearly $14,000. At Prince George's Community College, it is more than $2,000. Legal residents qualify for the reduced rate at Maryland universities if they have lived in the state for one year. They can get the in-state tuition rate at community colleges if they have lived in the state for three months. But undocumented immigrants cannot qualify for in-state tuition because they can't prove residency. Under the bill, undocumented immigrants who had attended high school in Maryland for at least two years would qualify for in-state tuition. They would have to prove that they or their parents paid state income taxes for at least a year before graduation, and they would have to submit an affidavit that they would apply for permanent residency within 30 days. Conway said she would "prefer not to see the bill die" and is working on amendments that would make it palatable to some opponents, including one that would increase the number of years a student must attend high school in Maryland, raising it from two years to four. The measure would cost the state about $1.1 million by 2012, according to a legislative analysis. Sen. Andrew P. Harris (R-Baltimore County) said he would lead the filibuster on the Senate floor if the bill makes it out of committee. "Why should we give even more incentives for illegal immigrants to flock to Maryland?" asked Harris, a member of the Senate committee. "Maryland is already one of the few states to give illegal immigrants driver's licenses." Former governor Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. (R) vetoed an in-state tuition bill that passed the General Assembly in 2003, arguing that the legislation would reward illegal behavior and allow illegal immigrants to take spots away from legal Maryland residents. Immigration advocates remained optimistic that the bill would pass this session. "Everyone knows we have a broken immigration system," said Kim Propeack, director of Casa of Maryland Inc., an immigrant advocacy group that organized yesterday's rally. "These kids are the innocent bystanders of this broken system." Ten states have passed similar bills since 2001, according to the legislative analysis, but at least four of those states have considered repeals in recent years.
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#1. To: DeaconBenjamin (#0)
Exactly...why the hell should CRIMINALS (and illegals are criminals) be rewarded with IN-STATE tuition when actual citizens are forced to obey the rules re: in-state and out of state tuition rates??? I am up to HERE with this crap...
Yep.
Let's focus on helping our own.
"First they ignore you. Then they ridicule you. Then they fight you. Then you win." --Mahatma K. Gandhi
What a revolutionary concept. :-)
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