Updated (5:45 p.m.): Rell Vetoes In-State Tutition for Immigrants; Proponents Set Hopes on Next Year
by Christine Stuart | June 26, 2007 3:50 PM
Posted to State Capitol
Governor M. Jodi Rell has vetoed a bill that would have allowed children of undocumented workers in Connecticut to pay in-state tuition at state colleges and universities.
She pointed out the bill would have required such students to file an application to legalize their immigration status or state that they will file as soon as they are “eligible to do so,” however, Rell felt absent federal reform, many of these students will never become eligible to legalize their status.
“The fact remains, however, that these students and their parents are here illegally and neither sympathy nor good intentions can ameliorate that fact,” Rell said.
But Democratic leaders and proponents of the bill fired back at Rell for the veto. Senate President Donald Williams, D-Brooklyn said, “Her arguments against this bill do not reflect its many merits, such as the requirement that any student applying for an in-state tuition rate have been a longtime Connecticut resident, successfully attended and graduated high school here, been accepted at a state college or university of their choice, and promised to apply for U.S. citizenship.”
Barbara Richards, a proponent of the bill and member of Unidad Latina en Acción in New Haven, said, “This is a very sad day for the children who would have been able to attend college if the bill had become law.” She said these children are not eligible for state or federal financial aid and for most of them the cost of out of state tuition is enough to keep them from realizing their dreams. “We need the children in our future workforce,” Richards said.
But Richards remained optimistic. “It was a great effort and I hope it is not over,” she said.
Senate Majority Leader Martin Looney, D-New Haven, said, “”I anticipate this bill will be brought up and passed again next session; I hope at that time we can have another dialogue with the governor on the merits of this bill and convince her of its enormous importance to those who most need it.”
Read Rell’s veto message.
“This is a Governor who claims to care about children and especially about their education. Last year we did not know her very well, but this year she has made her views quite clear on this and on other important matters. It is hard to think that for three more years she may continue to block most of the inspiring and humane ideas percolating in the legislature,” Richards said.
But Rell felt this bill does not address the underlying problem that these students face - that they are not legal residents of the United States. “The requirement that students file an application to legalize their status would in essence, be notification to the government that they are here illegally and it would greatly increase the likelihood that they would be deported,” Rell said.
The Governor noted in her veto message that she also does not want “to encourage individuals to circumvent federal immigration laws. The bill, by providing benefits to undocumented aliens, may serve to encourage others to come to Connecticut in violation of federal immigration law.”
“I am sympathetic with the goals of this bill and with the needs of the students the bill seeks to help. But since the underlying issues are a matter of national concern and need to be addressed by the Congress, the most prudent course for the State of Connecticut is to wait for resolution at the federal level,” Rell said.
Williams noted that there 10 other states, including Texas, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Kansas, where these types of tuition incentives are seen as smart economic policy.
In these states, “They want young people to learn and become a valuable part of their social and business fabric. Unfortunately, the governor would rather put the onus on Congress to achieve what we here in Connecticut are already willing, ready and able to do. It’s a shame,” Williams said.
Comments (5)
Posted by: Frank Iezzi | June 26, 2007 6:02 PM
Finally, some sanity in government!!
Posted by: Peter G | June 26, 2007 6:48 PM
Governor Rell's veto is shameful pandering to the worst kinds of xenophobia and narrow mindedness. In the comfy confines of her circle of affluent and well-heeled friends, no doubt the lives and struggles of working people -- including young people who are struggling to get an education and contribute to this society -- are of no importance.
The shame for all of us is that here in Connecticut any resident has to pay exorbitant tuitions to attend a public college. The tax dollars of all of us -- including immigrant workers, regardless of their legal status -- are what make these institutions possible. By what perverted logic are the children of the working people who make this state work denied access to its schools?
Posted by: FairHavenRes | June 27, 2007 7:51 AM
Jodi stuck her finger up in the air to see which way the wind was blowing on this one. It just happened to be her middle finger to the students of our community, who happen to be undocumented. Thanks Jodi for another display of your fine leadership.
We need a comprehensive immigration reform now!
There can be no justice until the Congress acts. Secure the boarders, provide those that are here, working, and learning English a pathway to residency and eventual citizenship.
I am sure there will be the nativists still screaming about this and that, and until this country honestly deals with racism and xenophobia, they will continue. Unfortunately, you can not band racism and xenophobia with legislation, those are diseases of the heart.
Posted by: on whalley | June 27, 2007 8:38 AM
Thank goodness.
I'll support this when I can walk into some other country and pay their tuition. Hell, I'll support this when I can go across to MA and pay their in-state tuition.
As it is all my tax dollars spent on education do is lower standards and drive up tuition all the while SCSU builds new facilities I'll never use.
WTF?
I wish I was like all of you who just have money falling out of every orifice and dont mind paying for every person from Armenia to El Salvadore to go to school here.
Me, I mind.
Posted by: GreatGooglyMoogly | June 28, 2007 10:19 PM
Actually, Whalley, I think you can go to many other countries and pay their tuition rates.
If you want to blame anyone for the high cost of education, you can blame the people who make the most money on that industry ... unionized teachers. These people get raises every year, no matter what the economy is doing.
But fairhavres is right... the borders have to be closed entirely before anything can be done to start correcting the problem.
The bottom line here is that the terrorists and corporations have won (two different battles that have led to our current circumstances). We are no longer the promised land/land of the free. Anyone who dreams of coming here must be dreaming of working 16 hour days for their rest of their life without decent healthcare. That's more like a nightmare, no?
People like to say that we have it really good, and in many, many ways we do. But a lot of those judgements are based on materialistic values. Quality of life is an issue. Working all the time to make money for a corrupt CEO with a bloated salary, or a bunch of faceless stockholders from the "investment class," while I'm slaving away without even a cost-of-living pay increase for the last 5 years... well it sucks.