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Colorado: Screw you, immigrants
J. David McSwane
Issue date: 3/23/09 Section: Opinion
Just because a state's gone blue doesn't mean it's progressive -- at least not in schizophrenic Colorado.
Despite a majority in the state legislature, Democrats might end up shooting themselves in the foot on an important and overdue bill for their party, and more importantly, the state: Non-discrimination in the higher education system.
The skinny: The bill, which passed out of the Senate Education Committee, would allow for foreign-born immigrants who have completed three years of high school in the state to pay in-state tuition at state colleges and universities.
These are kids like you and me who, by no fault of their own, are denied the same opportunity to attend a school like CSU. Now, we're talking race, equality and opportunity.
With the racists and befuddled fiscal conservatives only recently the minority, it's not our state's forte. But with the recent Democratic resurgence in the West, liberals and even a few wealthy conservatives were hopeful … until for some odd reason, the bill, despite having no fiscal impact for the state, was tossed to the Senate Appropriations Committee.
There, Democratic Sen. Moe Keller promises to vote against the bill, tipping a 6-4 majority to a 5-5 split, which will kill the bill. The Senator from District 20, which includes Edgewater, Golden and Lakewood (no shortage of undocumented people there), will henceforth be referred to as "Bill Killer."
Bill Killer, who according to her online resume has a decent background in education and social work, has offered no justification for giving her party, and apparently her own values, the big stiffy. She just says she doesn't want to talk about it.
Maybe she's one of those elusive "conservadems" everyone's been talking about. Or maybe it's a political strategy to vote on the Republican line and thwart her own party's efforts -- a wolf in a Democrat's clothing. Or maybe she just doesn't understand the bill.
It really seems straightforward. But for the sake of argument, let's review the possible consequences of the bill:
Despite a majority in the state legislature, Democrats might end up shooting themselves in the foot on an important and overdue bill for their party, and more importantly, the state: Non-discrimination in the higher education system.
The skinny: The bill, which passed out of the Senate Education Committee, would allow for foreign-born immigrants who have completed three years of high school in the state to pay in-state tuition at state colleges and universities.
These are kids like you and me who, by no fault of their own, are denied the same opportunity to attend a school like CSU. Now, we're talking race, equality and opportunity.
With the racists and befuddled fiscal conservatives only recently the minority, it's not our state's forte. But with the recent Democratic resurgence in the West, liberals and even a few wealthy conservatives were hopeful … until for some odd reason, the bill, despite having no fiscal impact for the state, was tossed to the Senate Appropriations Committee.
There, Democratic Sen. Moe Keller promises to vote against the bill, tipping a 6-4 majority to a 5-5 split, which will kill the bill. The Senator from District 20, which includes Edgewater, Golden and Lakewood (no shortage of undocumented people there), will henceforth be referred to as "Bill Killer."
Bill Killer, who according to her online resume has a decent background in education and social work, has offered no justification for giving her party, and apparently her own values, the big stiffy. She just says she doesn't want to talk about it.
Maybe she's one of those elusive "conservadems" everyone's been talking about. Or maybe it's a political strategy to vote on the Republican line and thwart her own party's efforts -- a wolf in a Democrat's clothing. Or maybe she just doesn't understand the bill.
It really seems straightforward. But for the sake of argument, let's review the possible consequences of the bill:
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 12
Alan Riley
posted 3/23/09 @ 7:27 AM MST
How can you possibly think it's fair to charge outrageous out-of-state tuition to honest American citizens and then give illegal immigrants a break by giving them in-state tuition? That is absolutely ridiculous. (Continued…)
Brianna
posted 3/23/09 @ 8:24 AM MST
The problem with the bill is the most important work about these immigrants.....they are ILLEGAL. This is not about having a better educated workforce, this is about the fact that ILLEGAL immigrants will get more rights to in-state tuition and funding than those of us who are here LEGALLY. (Continued…)
Out-of-State Alumni
posted 3/23/09 @ 1:02 PM MST
You know, the operative work for the reason that they immigrants shouldn't get any help from the goverment is because they are ILLEGAL. I know this is harsh. (Continued…)
Kevin
posted 3/23/09 @ 10:44 PM MST
To Brianna, illegals would get the SAME in-state tuition rights, not more, try re-reading the article sometime.
In principle, yeah, not really digging letting an illegal immigrant go to public university. (Continued…)
Craig Hawley
posted 3/24/09 @ 2:37 AM MST
Once again McSwane's is clueless , and on the wrong side of an issue. What part of Illegal don't you get.
Maybe a new term would help you identify what they really are. (Continued…)
Right Framer
posted 3/24/09 @ 9:43 AM MST
First of all, many of you are wrong to assume that illegal immigrants do not pay U.S. taxes and therefore they (or their offspring) are not entitled to educational benefits given to citizens. (Continued…)
AliC
posted 3/24/09 @ 2:19 PM MST
Since when is Mexico a part of the state of Colorado? Maybe Mexico needs to fix their problem so we don't have to educate these fence jumping people who reside in our country without paying taxes! If Immigrants, legal or illegal receive in-state tuition then they should let REAL Colorado residents go to school for FREE!
On that note. (Continued…)
Jack
posted 3/24/09 @ 2:24 PM MST
What part of ILLEGAL don't you understand? Tell their ILLEGAL parents to stop having children!! Maybe they should visit Ellis Island sometime. Have you even heard of Ellis Island?
Lester L. Washington, MA, M.ED., ABD
posted 3/25/09 @ 1:00 PM MST
ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS AND OUT OF STATE TUITION: THE IN AND OUT OF STATE TUITION SYSTEM NEEDS TO GO TO TERMINAT THE TRADITIONS OF ACADEMIC HOMICIDE (**) IN THE USA
I am a PHD Candidate at CSU Ft. (Continued…)
Pansy Liberal
posted 3/25/09 @ 1:49 PM MST
Illegal family enters USA.
Children of illegal parents (thus also illegal if not born here) go to school for free until college.
According to the new bill, children of illegal parents pay in-state tuition for college IF they promise to follow the appropriate measures to seek residency. (Continued…)
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