- Apr 21, 2002
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http://www.lowellsun.com/front/ci_2717289
BOSTON -- A key House panel yesterday voted to recommend passage of a bill that would afford students who are not legal residents of the United States the discounted in-state tuition rate at state colleges and universities.
After listening to more than five hours of testimony at a Statehouse hearing, the Ways & Means Committee voted in favor of the bill that would make any student who has attended at least three years of high school in Massachusetts and graduated eligible for the lower in-state tuition rate, regardless of their immigration status.
Of the eight committee members in the room when the voice vote was taken, only Rep. William Greene, D-Billerica, voted against it. The bill is expected to move to the floor for a vote
by the full House.
Greene said the testimony helped him understand the issue more fully but did not sway his opinion. He rejected the suggestion by supporters that the state would benefit economically by granting the in-state tuition rate to illegal immigrants.
?These young kids are being lied to. They can't legally get a job when they get out. These people said themselves it can take 10 years to get legal residency,? he said.
Supporters say they are optimistic the bill will pass, and they are hopeful it will win the necessary two-thirds majority to override a promised veto by Gov. Mitt Romney.
?I honestly think that as we educate more people, as more legislators understand how important this is to their districts and to the commonwealth, we will get that two-thirds,? said Ali Noorani, deputy director of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition, which is lobbying for passage of the bill.
But others aren't sure. House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi supports the legislation, but some are predicting an uphill battle before the full House. Some members of DiMasi's leadership team, including Rep. Kevin Murphy, D-Lowell, co-chairman of the Higher Education Committee, and Rep. David Nangle, D-Lowell, a member of DiMasi's inner circle, oppose the bill.
Yesterday's vote came a week after an internal squabble in the House over whether to include the change in the fiscal 2006 budget.
With the backing of Rep. Marie St. Fleur, D-Boston, herself an immigrant from Haiti, the original House budget included the proposed change. But under pressure from House leaders who did not want to include policy matters in the budget, St. Fleur agreed to pull the section and have the House consider it separately.
She declined to predict yesterday whether the bill has sufficient votes to pass or withstand a gubernatorial veto.
?You never know that until it happens on the floor,? she said.
A similar proposal was included in the final version of last year's budget but was vetoed by Romney. The House did not take up an override.
Dozens of people testified on the legislation at yesterday's hearing, including students who pleaded for a chance to afford college and Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey, who expressed the administration's opposition to the change in state law.
Supporters argued the commonwealth has a moral and financial interest in making college affordable for every person who lives here, and has already made an investment in immigrant students who are enrolled in public schools -- a constitutionally protected right.
?Frankly, we should not be about creating artificial barriers to brains and intelligence and the capacity to do more,? said Peter Larkin, a lobbyist who served in the House until his resignation in January and formerly chaired the Education Committee.
While fewer in number, opponents said the bill favors people who have flouted the law and would shortchange legal residents. Healey dubbed the bill ?well-intentioned but misguided.?
?Breaking the law should not entitle you to public benefits,? Healey said. ?America is a nation of immigrants, but America is also a nation of laws.?
Nine states have passed laws similar to the one proposed in Massachusetts, including New York.
"
Of the eight committee members in the room when the voice vote was taken, only Rep. William Greene, D-Billerica, voted against it."
That there is the rep from my town. aparently the only smart in in the lot.
A question for people outside of the USA: Hoiw would you feel if I snuck into your country and then asked for YOUR tax dollars?
BOSTON -- A key House panel yesterday voted to recommend passage of a bill that would afford students who are not legal residents of the United States the discounted in-state tuition rate at state colleges and universities.
After listening to more than five hours of testimony at a Statehouse hearing, the Ways & Means Committee voted in favor of the bill that would make any student who has attended at least three years of high school in Massachusetts and graduated eligible for the lower in-state tuition rate, regardless of their immigration status.
Of the eight committee members in the room when the voice vote was taken, only Rep. William Greene, D-Billerica, voted against it. The bill is expected to move to the floor for a vote
by the full House.
Greene said the testimony helped him understand the issue more fully but did not sway his opinion. He rejected the suggestion by supporters that the state would benefit economically by granting the in-state tuition rate to illegal immigrants.
?These young kids are being lied to. They can't legally get a job when they get out. These people said themselves it can take 10 years to get legal residency,? he said.
Supporters say they are optimistic the bill will pass, and they are hopeful it will win the necessary two-thirds majority to override a promised veto by Gov. Mitt Romney.
?I honestly think that as we educate more people, as more legislators understand how important this is to their districts and to the commonwealth, we will get that two-thirds,? said Ali Noorani, deputy director of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition, which is lobbying for passage of the bill.
But others aren't sure. House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi supports the legislation, but some are predicting an uphill battle before the full House. Some members of DiMasi's leadership team, including Rep. Kevin Murphy, D-Lowell, co-chairman of the Higher Education Committee, and Rep. David Nangle, D-Lowell, a member of DiMasi's inner circle, oppose the bill.
Yesterday's vote came a week after an internal squabble in the House over whether to include the change in the fiscal 2006 budget.
With the backing of Rep. Marie St. Fleur, D-Boston, herself an immigrant from Haiti, the original House budget included the proposed change. But under pressure from House leaders who did not want to include policy matters in the budget, St. Fleur agreed to pull the section and have the House consider it separately.
She declined to predict yesterday whether the bill has sufficient votes to pass or withstand a gubernatorial veto.
?You never know that until it happens on the floor,? she said.
A similar proposal was included in the final version of last year's budget but was vetoed by Romney. The House did not take up an override.
Dozens of people testified on the legislation at yesterday's hearing, including students who pleaded for a chance to afford college and Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey, who expressed the administration's opposition to the change in state law.
Supporters argued the commonwealth has a moral and financial interest in making college affordable for every person who lives here, and has already made an investment in immigrant students who are enrolled in public schools -- a constitutionally protected right.
?Frankly, we should not be about creating artificial barriers to brains and intelligence and the capacity to do more,? said Peter Larkin, a lobbyist who served in the House until his resignation in January and formerly chaired the Education Committee.
While fewer in number, opponents said the bill favors people who have flouted the law and would shortchange legal residents. Healey dubbed the bill ?well-intentioned but misguided.?
?Breaking the law should not entitle you to public benefits,? Healey said. ?America is a nation of immigrants, but America is also a nation of laws.?
Nine states have passed laws similar to the one proposed in Massachusetts, including New York.
"
Of the eight committee members in the room when the voice vote was taken, only Rep. William Greene, D-Billerica, voted against it."
That there is the rep from my town. aparently the only smart in in the lot.
A question for people outside of the USA: Hoiw would you feel if I snuck into your country and then asked for YOUR tax dollars?
Cool, more giving away of American Tax dollars to illegal Foreigners :thumbsup:
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