Posted on 02/24/2005 10:39:15 AM PST by WindOracle
College aid for illegal immigrants bill passed by House Thursday, Feb 24, 2005
LITTLE ROCK - An emotional and teary-eyed Rep. Joyce Elliott, D-Little Rock, buried her head in her hands Monday afternoon after the House approved a measure that would make the children of illegal immigrants in Arkansas eligible for state college scholarships.
"I feel as if it just drained every ounce of energy out of me to get this done," Elliott said after the 63-31 vote.
"This is a momentous day for Arkansas; I don't take the Senate for granted, but I knew that this was a big, big hurdle today," she said. "I have spent ... since 2003 really working on the bill itself, trying to get it right."
Elliott, who is term limited, said the House vote is the highlight of her time in office.
"It's just immensely rewarding," she said. "It is the best thing I could possibly do with a political career."
House Bill 1525, which is endorsed by Gov. Mike Huckabee, now goes to the Senate.
Elliott said the measure, similar to legislation already passed in Texas, New York and California, would allow the children of undocumented Arkansas residents to be eligible for state-sponsored scholarship opportunities.
"House members showed courage by dismissing the shrill, misleading, often inaccurate criticisms of this bill," Huckabee said in a statement. "They voted to create true opportunity for all graduates of Arkansas schools. It's the kind of message that gives our state a very different image from the one in 1957 when we said 'no' to opportunity for children."
The state already is required to offer elementary, junior high school and high school to the children of illegal immigrants, Elliott said. Also, those illegal immigrants work in the state and pay taxes.
Elliott said about 600 Hispanic children graduate from state high schools each year, and about 300 are children of illegal immigrants. Of those 300, about 100 will probably will attend college and be eligible for in-state tuition.
Elliott, who is black, also discussed growing up in Arkansas in the 1950s and '60s and how she realized at a young age that many of her dreams would not be reached because of the state's discriminatory laws against women and minorities.
"I remember ever so clearly what it felt like to have the big boot of the government on my back, and I was a mere child," she said. "For these kids today, it is not a memory, it's a way of life. They are living with the boot of the government on their back, and College aid for illegal immigrants bill passed by House Thursday, Feb 24, 2005
By Rob Moritz Arkansas News Bureau LITTLE ROCK - An emotional and teary-eyed Rep. Joyce Elliott, D-Little Rock, buried her head in her hands Monday afternoon after the House approved a measure that would make the children of illegal immigrants in Arkansas eligible for state college scholarships.
"I feel as if it just drained every ounce of energy out of me to get this done," Elliott said after the 63-31 vote.
"This is a momentous day for Arkansas; I don't take the Senate for granted, but I knew that this was a big, big hurdle today," she said. "I have spent ... since 2003 really working on the bill itself, trying to get it right."
Elliott, who is term limited, said the House vote is the highlight of her time in office.
"It's just immensely rewarding," she said. "It is the best thing I could possibly do with a political career."
House Bill 1525, which is endorsed by Gov. Mike Huckabee, now goes to the Senate.
Elliott said the measure, similar to legislation already passed in Texas, New York and California, would allow the children of undocumented Arkansas residents to be eligible for state-sponsored scholarship opportunities.
"House members showed courage by dismissing the shrill, misleading, often inaccurate criticisms of this bill," Huckabee said in a statement. "They voted to create true opportunity for all graduates of Arkansas schools. It's the kind of message that gives our state a very different image from the one in 1957 when we said 'no' to opportunity for children."
The state already is required to offer elementary, junior high school and high school to the children of illegal immigrants, Elliott said. Also, those illegal immigrants work in the state and pay taxes.
Elliott said about 600 Hispanic children graduate from state high schools each year, and about 300 are children of illegal immigrants. Of those 300, about 100 will probably will attend college and be eligible for in-state tuition.
Elliott, who is black, also discussed growing up in Arkansas in the 1950s and '60s and how she realized at a young age that many of her dreams would not be reached because of the state's discriminatory laws against women and minorities.
"I remember ever so clearly what it felt like to have the big boot of the government on my back, and I was a mere child," she said. "For these kids today, it is not a memory, it's a way of life. They are living with the boot of the government on their back, and it's not fair because they've done nothing wrong."
Illegal immigration has been a contentious issue among lawmakers this session and some comments on the House floor Wednesday came in apparent anticipation of anti-immigration sentiment.
"There is a reason we have a representative democracy," said Rep. Sam Ledbetter, D-Little Rock. "We are here because we get the opportunity to hear the thoughtful arguments on a bill that may otherwise be controversial and unpopular and realize the merits in doing this."
"I've gotten to know every one of you and there's not a single person in this body who hasn't built up the political capital that you cast this vote, do the right thing, and it's not going to make any difference in your political career," Ledbetter said.
Also speaking for the bill were Reps. David Matayo, R-Siloam Springs, and Shirley Borhauer, R-Bella Vista.
"This is a bill that sends the right message, a message that we want our best and brightest to stay in Arkansas," Matayo said.
"This is going to give us a chance to be up there with the good guys," Borhauer said.
Nobody spoke against the bill before the vote.
Also Wednesday, the House approved Senate Bill 235, which would move the state's presidential primary from May 18 to the first Tuesday in February. The vote was 92-0 and the measure goes back to the Senate for approval of a House amendment adding sponsors.
The House originally approved the bill Monday, but that vote was rescinded Tuesday after Rep. Janet Johnson, D-Bryant, learned that an amendment to the bill, which was endorsed in a House committee, had not been considered by the House before the bill was passed. The House approved the amendment Tuesday.
besides simply BEING HERE.
Nobody spoke against the bill before the vote.
NOT ONE!?!? A state legislature full of moral cowards.
In Arkansas? I am surprised the governor is for this. I know it sounds harsh to be against a bill like this but we must stop the nonsense somewhere.
So once again, illegals are rewarded by giving their children scholarships. And the statement about illegals paying taxes is not always true. Where I live I know a lot of illegals are paid cash under the table. I guess I just don't get it.
No one? NOT ONE?
We in California told you this crap would happen.
Sadly, UT-Austin has been funding illegals for awhile >>>
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1333853/posts
With 50K+ students, it's not as if UT needs to do this to fill classrooms, yet qualified out-of-state students are declined in favor of those who shouldn't even be here.
It's time for a revolution!!!
LOL! Oh my gosh, that is too much! You are something else! That made my day, thanks!!
it does not pay to be honest....
it does not pay......
Elliott said about 600 Hispanic children graduate from state high schools each year, and about 300 are children of illegal immigrants
Like to know how he arrived at this low figure.
Yes, you did warn us, I guess I better be on the look-out here in Oklahoma. Will it ever stop?
"It's just immensely rewarding," she said. "It is the best thing I could possibly do with a political career."
I have no doubt it was immensley rewarding to those who sold out the voters and I am sure their campaign contributions from special interests groups will reflect this.
How perverted! Anyone who favored this bill has some vested interest (blackmail, bribe, etc.), hates this country, or has psychiatric problems.
Make them all attend Colorado University...
LOL! Good one.
I highly doubt that NO ONE spoke up against the tuition for illegals bill. We have some Senators and Congressmen that are against the illegal immigrant agenda. Holt, Altes, Jeremy Hutchinson and others.
You're not the only one who was surprised. Mike Huckabee has slapped his core support group right smack in the face with his love affair of ILLEGAL immigrants.
We were embrassed enough by Bill Clinton, and now this? Maybe the Gov. thinks the ILLEGALS are going to vote for him when he seeks higher office, because I haven't spoken with ONE person who has any respect left for him. We have been betrayed.
sw
Passivity is fatal to us. Our goal is to make the enemy passive.
Mao Tse-Tung
Well, they sure as hell seem to have accomplished that here.
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