Panel OKs bill on in-state education for illegal immigrants in Tennessee

.lebanondemocrat ^ | FEB 13, 2014 | ANDY SHER

[moonshinner_09]

NASHVILLE (MCT) – Despite opposition from some members of his own party, Sen. Todd Gardenhire, R-Chattanooga, on Wednesday persuaded a key panel to approve his bill allowing U.S.-born children of illegal immigrants living in Tennessee to attend public colleges paying in-state tuition rates.

Among his arguments to reluctant fellow Republicans who dominate Senate Education Committee members?

They need to vote yes from a "pure greed function," Gardenhire explained as he led members through statistics showing college-educated children of illegal immigrant pay far more in taxes than they receive in government benefits.

"These people aren't draining us," Gardenhire said. "It's the other people who are draining us and costing us more money and we need to be a little bit selfish and a little bit greedy about this. And we need ... to solve this problem. This is a problem that's hurting us economically."

Senate Education Committee members approved the bill on a 6-3 vote with three Republicans in the GOP-dominated panel voting no following lengthy debate.

Attacks on the bill came from Sen. Stacey Campfield, R-Knoxville, and Sen. Joe Hensley, R-Howenwald.

Campfield contended the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution does not apply to American-born children of illegal immigrants.

"I question whether those people are truly citizens," Campfield said.

Rather, he argued, the post-Civil War amendment was intended to apply only to the children of slaves legally brought to the U.S.

[moonshinner_09]

free college educations for illegals in TN. Afterwards, he told reporters the measure grew out of conversations the conservative lawmaker had with Hispanic church leaders and others in Chattanooga.Leaders chat away about giving handouts to illegals aliens.Chats lead to rewards.These benefits continue to increase as illegals surpass American citizens as they get more and more freebies.

[ATOMIC_PUNK]

Read it Again !

Despite opposition from some members of his own party, Sen. Todd Gardenhire, R-Chattanooga, on Wednesday persuaded a key panel to approve his bill allowing ****U.S.-born children**** of illegal immigrants living in Tennessee to attend public colleges paying in-state tuition rates.

If your born here your a citizen if your not your illegal the parents are illegal not the kid !

[Waryone]

I really don’t care what his stats say about college educated illegals, American citizens pay far more in taxes than illegals do any day of the week. We should be more concerned about our own students than giving handouts to invaders and their children. With all the RINOs who run TN, this will probably pass with flags waving.

[bgill]

More feeding of the taxpayer and taking away desks from US citizens.

[RginTN]

This is stupid. College tuition in Tn is about to increase again! That’s an important issue. This is pandering to a miniscule population in Tn!

[moonshinner_09]

TN years ago allowed illegals to have drivers licenses.Until illegals across America poured into TN using same 3 or 4 addresses for thousands of illegals.TN canceled that law.It would seem TN would learn from past experiences that illegals will take advantage of any handouts. Fraud,lying,cheating, TN did not learn first time.Here they be back catering to illegals because of chats with Hispanic church leaders

[FlingWingFlyer]

So what are the illegals doing here anyway? I thought they were going to do all the jobs “americans don’t want to do”. Why do they need to go to college for that? The DemonRATS are lying again.

[Coldwater Creek]

My first thought was these children of illegals are going to be entitled to state school scholarships, that my grandchildren worked so hard to get.

Sorry about the grammar. My 02 deprived isn't working.

[virgil283]

moonshinner_09...

Since the duly authorized law doesn't apply any more why don't we citizen pass an amendment that all real estate belonging to state representatives is forfeited and now belong to what ever illegals get to it first...limited to the first fifty arrivals.....fair is fair...

[Bryanw92]

Our nation has a glut of college-educated people and a shortage of skilled tradesmen. Giving everyone a bachelors degree does not create 100 million new white collar jobs. It just makes it harder for people to get the shrinking number of jobs available in our country.

Educate the Americans first. Then, if we have a degree shortage, send the illegals to college.

[Oliviaforever]

“”I question whether those people are truly citizens,” Campfield said.”

If the bill ultimately passes, it will be a good test case for the 14th Amendment to decide if those people are really citizens.

[Mike Darancette]

U.S.-born children of illegal immigrants living in Tennessee to attend public colleges paying in-state tuition rates.

They are citizens after all and should have the rights of any other citizen.

[bgill]

Junior learned a valuable lesson his freshman year when they roomed him with an illegal. Here we were sacrificing everything and he applied for every scholarship under the sun while that illegal had a free ride and spending money. Third in his HS class but that didn't matter because most scholarships aren't for white middle class US kids.

[sarasmom]

I agree.
I don't see the problem with in state tuition rates for any USA citizen student, provided they also meet the state residency requirements that all other citizen students are required to meet.

If the bill also included non-citizens, then I would have issues with it.

My question is why do they need a bill at all?

[Mike Darancette]

My question is why do they need a bill at all?

Could be pandering?

[SeminoleCounty]

You’re correct...this bill will increase college tuition in TN

Not only it is wrong to give Illegal Aliens benefits...it costs taxpayers in so many ways